Head of Testing and Deployment

As Head of Testing and Deployment at Azalea Robotics, you will own the end-to-end process of preparing our robots for the real world and successful operation at customer sites. Based in our main office in Berkeley, CA, you will define and run the testing regimen that every system must pass before it ships, and you will lead the hardware and software preparation that makes customer deployments go smoothly. This is a hands-on engineering role, and you will personally troubleshoot and fix problems alongside the team, not just coordinate others to do it. Responsibilities Specific duties include, but are not limited to: Define, build, and continuously improve the pre-shipment testing regimen for our robotic platforms, covering hardware integrity, software functionality, calibration, and end-to-end performance Own the hardware and software readiness of every robot leaving our facility, serving as the final sign-off before customer shipment Lead on-site deployment for the first 1–3 weeks of each customer engagement, including setup, calibration, commissioning, and acceptance testing Diagnose and resolve hardware and software issues directly (mechanical, electrical, firmware, and application-layer), pulling in specialists from the broader team as necessary Develop test fixtures, diagnostic tooling, and deployment playbooks that let the company scale customer installations without scaling headcount proportionally Partner with engineering, product, and customer-facing teams to translate field learnings into design and process improvements Contribute to customer relationships and travel logistics as needed during deployments, while keeping primary focus on technical readiness and execution Build and mentor a testing and deployment function as the company grows Qualifications B.S. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field 5+ years of industry experience in robotics/other hardware deployment companies Strong Engineering background with deep understanding of electromechanical systems and demonstrated ability to debug and repair hardware and software issues Strong C++ and Python skills , with the ability to read, modify, and debug production-level robotics code Experience with Linux environments Networking Debugging Experience Experience commissioning/calibrating/deploying hardware systems in customer or field environments Willingness to travel for extended periods (typically 1–3 weeks) at the start of each customer deployment Excellent communication skills and ability to represent the company credibly on-site with technical and non-technical customer stakeholders Preferred Skills: Quality control, test engineering, or manufacturing test experience is a strong plus Experience with ROS , motion control systems, sensor calibration, or robotic perception stacks Experience with HIL Testing (Hardware in the Loop) Familiarity with Regressing Testing for Software Ansible and Docker familiarity Our Culture Azalea Robotics is a team of passionate engineers and researchers dedicated to solving complex problems in robotics and artificial intelligence, while maintaining a laser focus on solving real world problems. We value creativity, critical thinking, and a hands-on approach to development. Azalea Robotics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability. We offer competitive compensation, including salary, stock options, and benefits.