Sr. Staff System Architect – Robotics Applications (Motion & Architecture)

Company Description

Renesas is one of the top global semiconductor companies in the world. We strive to develop a safer, healthier, greener, and smarter world, and our goal is to make every endpoint intelligent by offering product solutions in the automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT markets. Our robust product portfolio includes world-leading MCUs, SoCs, analog and power products, plus Winning Combination solutions that curate these complementary products. We are a key supplier to the world’s leading manufacturers of electronics you rely on every day; you may not see our products, but they are all around you. 

Renesas employs roughly 21,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide. As a global team, our employees actively embody the Renesas Culture, our guiding principles based on five key elements: Transparent, Agile, Global, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial. Renesas believes in, and has a commitment to, diversity and inclusion, with initiatives and a leadership team dedicated to its resources and values. At Renesas, we want to build a sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. Join us and build your future by being part of what’s next in electronics and the world. 

Job Description

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced System Architect to lead the definition and development of next-generation robotic platforms, with a primary focus on motion systems, motor control strategies, and overall robotic system architecture.

In this role, you will bridge motor drive technology, control algorithms, and system-level integration to enable robots that are precise, safe, efficient, and scalable across industrial, service, and humanoid domains.

Key Responsibilities

Motion & Motor Control

• Architect robotic actuation systems including motors, drives, encoders, and sensors.
• Define motor control strategies for PMSM, BLDC, induction, and stepper motors to achieve precision, efficiency, and robustness.
• Develop control architectures for torque, velocity, and position control, including multi-axis coordination.
• Ensure real-time embedded implementations (MCUs, DSPs, FPGAs) meet safety and latency requirements.
• Deliver reference designs, SRDs, PoCs, and evaluation kits for robotic motion platforms.

System Architecture

• Define end-to-end robotic architectures, integrating motion, sensing, compute, and safety.
• Conduct system-level modeling and simulation (mechanical dynamics, thermal, magnetic, electrical).
• Specify HW/SW partitioning and key interfaces across subsystems.
• Ensure compliance with functional safety and reliability standards (ISO 26262, IEC 61508, ISO 13849).
• Collaborate with perception/AI teams to ensure balanced integration between intelligence and actuation layers.

Collaboration & Strategy

• Align with product lines, silicon teams, and application engineers to ensure optimized system solutions.
• Track industry trends in robotics (humanoids, cobots, service robots, exoskeletons) to guide product roadmaps.
• Partner with universities, startups, and ecosystem players on innovative motion and control architectures.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in robotics, embedded control, or motor drive systems.
• Proven expertise in:
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
• Motor control algorithms (FOC, vector control, sensorless control).
• Embedded real-time systems for multi-axis motor control (MCUs, DSPs, FPGAs).
• Actuator and drive system integration with feedback sensors (encoders, torque, force).
• System modeling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, SPICE, ANSYS).
• Functional safety standards (ISO 26262, IEC 61508, ISO 13849).

Nice To Have

• Experience with battery management systems (BMS), charging architectures, and power conversion for mobile robots.
• Familiarity with predictive maintenance and condition monitoring using AI/ML.
• Knowledge of advanced actuators (series elastic actuators, soft robotics, exoskeleton joints).
• Background in humanoid robotics actuation systems.

Additional Information

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the intelligence layer of next-generation robots across industries.
• Dynamic environment with flat hierarchies, strong technical ownership, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Direct impact on product strategy, AI innovation, and customer success in robotics.
• Competitive salary, flexible working models, and international career development opportunities.

Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power.
 
With a diverse team of over 21,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’     
 
At Renesas, you can: 

• Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things.  
• Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure. 
• Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day.    

Are you ready to own your success and make your mark?  

Join Renesas. Let’s Shape the Future together.  

Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to supporting diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.

We have adopted a hybrid model that gives employees the ability to work remotely two days a week while ensuring that we come together as a team in the office the rest of the time. The designated in-office days are Tuesday through Thursday for innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.