Most In-Demand Robotics Jobs in 2026: Data-Backed Career Guide
Data current as of January 2026. Analysis covers 3,113 active robotics job postings, with 61.6% located in the US.
One role dominates the robotics job market. Automation & Robotics Technician positions account for 20% of all openings in our dataset—633 active jobs. Meanwhile, specialized ML and perception roles have far fewer openings but significantly more competition among employers.
Our analysis of 3,113 active robotics job postings (61.6% in the US) from January 2026 reveals where the actual demand is. This isn’t speculation or recycled industry reports. It’s what employers are hiring for right now.
The 10 Most In-Demand Robotics Jobs
Based on the job postings we track, here are the roles employers are actively hiring for right now, ranked by number of openings.
| Rank | Job Title | Active Jobs | % of Total Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automation & Robotics Technician | 633 | 20.3% |
| 2 | Controls Engineer | 345 | 11.1% |
| 3 | Field Service Engineer | 299 | 9.6% |
| 4 | Machine Learning Engineer | 298 | 9.6% |
| 5 | Robotics Product/Project Manager | 289 | 9.3% |
| 6 | Robotics Engineer | 274 | 8.8% |
| 7 | Robotics Software Engineer | 260 | 8.4% |
| 8 | Research Scientist | 242 | 7.8% |
| 9 | Systems & Integration Engineer | 242 | 7.8% |
| 10 | Robotics Leadership & Management | 238 | 7.6% |
Note: Jobs may appear in multiple categories based on required skills and responsibilities.
Automation & Robotics Technician (633 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Hands-on installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of automated systems. You’re on the factory floor keeping robots running.
Who’s hiring: Amazon, Anduril, Magna International
Career path: Technician → Senior Technician → Controls Engineer
Why it’s in demand: Manufacturing and logistics automation is accelerating. Every installed robot needs someone to maintain it. This is the highest-volume role by a significant margin.
What to know: High volume means more opportunities and a lower barrier to entry. But it’s also the role most exposed to economic cycles—companies pause technician hiring before cutting engineering headcount.
Controls Engineer (345 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Design and program control systems (PLC, HMI, SCADA). You’re making sure industrial automation systems function reliably.
Who’s hiring: ABB, Körber Group, KION Group, Hitachi
Why it’s in demand: Every manufacturing facility adopting automation needs controls engineers. Industrial automation is where most robots actually work.
The tradeoff: Critical infrastructure role with stable demand—manufacturers can’t run without these systems. But most openings are at established industrial companies rather than startups.
Field Service Engineer (299 active jobs)
What you’ll do: On-site installation, commissioning, maintenance at customer locations. You travel to where the robots are and keep them operational.
Who’s hiring: ABB, GE Vernova, Sidel Group
Why it’s in demand: Robotics companies sell hardware globally. Someone needs to install and service it on-site. This role can’t be done remotely.
What to know: Travel-heavy role with consistent demand. High turnover creates perpetual openings. Not for everyone, but excellent if you prefer hands-on work and travel over desk work.
Machine Learning Engineer (298 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Build AI/ML systems for robotics—computer vision, perception, autonomous decision-making. You’re teaching robots to understand and interact with the world.
Who’s hiring: NVIDIA, Analog Devices, Anduril, Mobileye
Why it’s in demand: Every robotics company is trying to add intelligence to their systems. ML expertise is the scarcest skill set in robotics.
The advantage: Far fewer openings than technician roles, but significantly more competition among employers for talent. This is where the talent shortage is most acute—and leverage for candidates is highest.
Searching recommended jobs...
Robotics Engineer (274 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Generalist role—design, build, program, deploy robotic systems. You’re involved in the full lifecycle of robot development.
Who’s hiring: Anduril, NVIDIA, Amazon, Toyota Research Institute
Why it’s in demand: The classic “robotics engineer” title. Versatile enough to work across hardware, software, and systems integration.
The tradeoff: Strong demand across the industry, but as a generalist you need to decide—specialize for higher pay, or build breadth for more optionality.
Robotics Software Engineer (260 active jobs)
What you’ll do: High-level robotics software, ROS/ROS2 middleware, simulation. You’re building the software stack that makes robots functional.
Who’s hiring: NVIDIA, Anduril, Rivian, GM
Why it’s in demand: Hardware is commoditizing; software is the differentiator. Every robotics company needs software expertise.
The advantage: Software skills transfer easily between industries, giving you career flexibility. Strong demand across manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles.
Robotics Product/Project Manager (289 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Lead robotics products from concept to launch. You coordinate engineering, manufacturing, and business teams.
Who’s hiring: Anduril, ABB, NVIDIA, Mobileye
Why it’s in demand: As robotics products mature, companies need people who can manage the product lifecycle, not just the technology.
What to know: These roles require both technical understanding and business acumen. Most PMs in robotics are former engineers who developed leadership skills.
Research Scientist (242 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Push the boundaries of what robots can do. You’re working on perception, manipulation, learning, and human-robot interaction.
Who’s hiring: Amazon, Meta, NVIDIA, Toyota Research Institute
Why it’s in demand: Companies need to innovate to stay competitive. Research roles feed the pipeline of future products.
The barrier: Most roles are at large tech companies with research budgets or well-funded startups. PhD is typically required.
Systems & Integration Engineer (242 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Make different systems work together. You integrate sensors, software, and hardware into functional robotic systems.
Who’s hiring: GM, Applied Intuition, Rivian, Shield AI
Why it’s in demand: Modern robots are complex systems. Making everything work together requires dedicated specialists.
The challenge: This is where the rubber meets the road. Integration engineers deal with the messy reality of connecting components that weren’t designed to work together.
Robotics Leadership & Management (238 active jobs)
What you’ll do: Lead engineering teams, manage technical organizations, set technical strategy.
Who’s hiring: Amazon, Shield AI, Anduril
Why it’s in demand: As robotics companies scale, they need experienced leaders to manage growing teams.
The barrier: These roles go to people with proven track records. You typically need 10+ years of experience and demonstrated leadership ability.
Where the Jobs Are
Top US States by Job Volume
| State | Jobs | % of US Market | Key Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 606 | 32.9% | NVIDIA, Anduril, Rivian |
| Texas | 175 | 9.5% | GM, Anduril, Amazon |
| Massachusetts | 142 | 7.7% | Amazon Robotics, Boston Dynamics |
| Michigan | 116 | 6.3% | GM, Ford, automotive suppliers |
| Washington | 88 | 4.8% | Amazon, Microsoft |
The reality: California has nearly one-third of all US robotics jobs in our dataset. If you want maximum optionality, that’s where the market concentrates. But opportunities exist nationwide.
California (606 jobs): The Bay Area dominates with AI/ML and software roles. Southern California has strong autonomous vehicle and defense presence.
Texas (175 jobs): Austin and Dallas are growing hubs. Lower cost of living than coastal markets, making them attractive for employers and employees alike.
Massachusetts (142 jobs): Boston has a deep robotics ecosystem anchored by MIT and Harvard. Strong in healthcare robotics and autonomous systems.
Michigan (116 jobs): The heart of automotive robotics. Most roles here are manufacturing and automation focused.
Top Hiring Companies in Our Dataset
- Amazon: 83 jobs
- NVIDIA: 74 jobs
- Anduril Industries: 70 jobs
- ABB: 64 jobs
- General Motors: 28 jobs
These five companies alone account for 319 active positions—over 10% of all jobs we track.
Amazon: Hiring across robotics research, warehouse automation, and delivery systems. Both software and hardware roles.
NVIDIA: Heavy focus on simulation, AI, and computing platforms for robotics. Mostly software and research roles.
Anduril: Defense and security robotics. Growing rapidly and hiring across all technical disciplines.
ABB: Industrial automation and manufacturing. Strong in controls, field service, and systems integration roles.
General Motors: Autonomous driving and manufacturing automation. Detroit-area roles with some remote flexibility.
Which Industries Are Hiring
Manufacturing & Logistics (45% of jobs in our dataset)
- Automotive: GM, Ford, Toyota
- Warehouse automation: Amazon, ABB
- Roles: Controls Engineer, Technician, Field Service Engineer
- Trend: Steady demand, less sensitive to tech cycles
Defense & Security (growing rapidly)
- Anduril, Shield AI, RTX
- Roles: Robotics Engineer, Software Engineer, Research Scientist
- Trend: Government spending driving growth, clearance requirements for some roles
Healthcare & Medical
- Surgical robots, rehabilitation systems
- Roles: Systems Engineer, Software Engineer, Clinical specialists
- Trend: Smaller volume but high growth potential as robotic surgery matures
Agriculture
- Precision farming, autonomous harvesting
- Roles: Field Service, Systems Integration
- Trend: Emerging sector with specialized opportunities, mostly field-facing
Autonomous Vehicles
- Self-driving technology, delivery robots
- Roles: ML Engineer, Perception Engineer, Software Engineer
- Trend: Highly competitive, talent-constrained, sensitive to funding cycles
The reality: Manufacturing and logistics offer the most job stability. Defense and healthcare are growing faster but have higher barriers to entry. Choose your sector based on your risk tolerance and interests.
Career Paths and Progression
Entry-level paths:
For students exploring career options, see our Student Career Guide.
Technician route: Technician → Senior Technician → Controls Engineer → Engineering Manager
- Faster entry to the workforce
- Hands-on learning
- Can transition to engineering roles later
Engineering route: Junior Engineer → Engineer → Senior Engineer → Staff/Principal Engineer
- Requires bachelor’s degree minimum
- Steeper initial barrier to entry
- Higher long-term compensation ceiling
Research route: Research Scientist → Senior Scientist → Principal Scientist → Research Director
- PhD typically required
- Most competitive at entry
- Highest concentration at large tech companies
Management route: Engineer → Tech Lead → Engineering Manager → Director → VP
- Requires demonstrated leadership ability
- Usually requires 5-10 years of technical experience first
- Mix of technical strategy and people management
Common Questions About Robotics Careers
Will robots take my job?
Is the robotics job market saturated?
What's the difference between a technician and an engineer?
Is robotics a good career in 2026?
Summary
Key takeaways:
- Technician roles dominate hiring (633 openings), but ML and perception roles face talent shortages
- California has nearly one-third of US robotics jobs in our dataset, but opportunities exist nationwide
- Manufacturing and logistics offer the most stability; defense and healthcare are growing fastest
- Specialization in AI, ML, or perception gives you leverage in a competitive market
- Career paths vary from hands-on technician work to PhD-level research
Where to go from here:
- Explore specific roles that match your interests and skills
- Research companies in your target location or industry
- Build relevant skills through projects and hands-on experience
- Network within the robotics community—conferences, meetups, online forums
The robotics job market in our dataset is active and growing. The opportunities are there—for candidates with the right skills and realistic expectations.
Data Sources:
- Our proprietary analysis of 3,113 active robotics job postings (January 2026)
- CareersInRobotics Salary Guide—907 jobs with salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (10% job growth projection for robotics engineers, 2022-2032)