Principal Solutions Architect - Robotics & Voice AI

Cerence Inc. • $119K — $190K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years in computer science, software engineering, or related field
  • Experience in a solutions or sales-engineering role
  • Deep knowledge of robotics software stack and hardware
  • Proven track record in technical evaluations and post-sales processes
  • Familiarity with hybrid cloud-edge architecture
  • Strong communication skills with a focus on technology discussions
  • Collaborative mindset with ability to work across teams

Responsibilities

  • Engage with senior technical leaders in robotics sector
  • Own and manage the technical core of business opportunities
  • Remove technical barriers to close deals
  • Collaborate with sales and product teams to link field insights to strategy
  • Incorporate customer feedback into product development

Benefits

  • Generous compensation package beyond base salary
  • Annual bonus opportunities
  • Comprehensive insurance coverage
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Company contributions to retirement savings plans
  • Equity awards for specific team members
  • Flexible remote and hybrid work options
Full Job Description
Principal Solutions Architect - Robotics & Voice

Location: California Bay Area

Voice AI is reshaping how robots work in the real world, and we are responding to a deep unmet need: giving mobile service robots a voice that holds up against the demands of latency, patchy connectivity, and noisy, unpredictable environments. This is about opening new markets from the ground up. To do it, we are bringing together a team that combines the top commercial and technical talent, with the domain expertise these markets demand. The pace is fast, the technology is new and exciting, and your work moves the business.

Your Impact
  • Engage senior technical decision-makers at robotics companies building the next generation of physical AI in mobile and service robotics, from startups to mid-sized players to established names.
  • Own the technical core of every opportunity: understand how our voice solution runs on the customer's hardware, design how it fits, and work through the hard questions that keep a deal moving.
  • Clear the technical roadblocks between interest and a signed deal, turning evaluations into commitments.
  • Work hand in hand with sales, product, and professional services, translating what you learn in the field into how we sell, deliver, and build.
  • Shape the product itself, feeding real customer hardware and conditions back into what we build next.

Why Join the Team
  • You get in early on a market about to scale, and help define how voice for mobile service robots is won.
  • This is a new business, so you help shape the solution itself. How it works in the real world, on real customer hardware, is still being defined, in large part by you.
  • You bring the autonomy of a start-up and the credibility of an established company to every conversation, with the capital, customer relationships, technology, and brand behind you.
  • Decisions come fast, obstacles get cleared, and you hold real authority over your part of the business.
  • Your impact is rewarded directly, with real financial upside tied to the deals you support.

What You Bring
  • A background in computer science, software engineering, or a related engineering discipline, built through hands-on development or a solutions or sales-engineering role, with the ambition to take on more ownership and work closer to the customer.
  • Understanding of the robotics software stack - middleware/robot OS (ROS 2, vendor SDKs), the autonomy stack (perception, SLAM-based navigation/Nav2, MoveIt 2 manipulation), the intelligence layer (foundation models, agentic orchestration), and fleet operations & integration (RobOps platforms, VDA 5050, ERP/WMS)
  • Working knowledge of the underlying robotics hardware - onboard compute, sensor suites, actuation and end-effectors, power and charging/docking systems, and the robot platforms
  • Experience with technical evaluation, POCs delivery. proof of value engagements, onboarding and post-sales hand-off
  • Proficiency in working with cloud-edge hybrid architectures and embedded systems
  • A strong communicator who enjoys going deep on technology, holds conversation with engineering teams, and stays structured and credible with senior stakeholders.
  • A natural collaborator who works closely with sales, product, and professional services teams.
  • Regular travel to customer sites (20%-30%)


Education & Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Software Engineering, AI, or a related discipline.


What we offer
  • We offer a generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to the base salary), including:
  • Salary range $119,350.00 USD - $190,650.00 USD It is not typical for offers to be made at or near the top of the range. The actual salary will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors.
  • Annual bonus opportunity
  • Insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, and disability)
  • Paid time off
  • Paid holidays
  • Company contribution to the RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan)
  • Equity awards for certain positions and levels
  • Remote and/or hybrid work available depending on the position All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable, and may be amended, terminated, or replaced from time to time.

About Cerence Inc.

Cerence Inc. is a software company that specializes in voice recognition and natural language understanding technology. The company was spun off from Nuance Communications in 2019 and is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. Cerence's software is used in a variety of applications, including automotive infotainment systems, smart speakers, and virtual assistants. The company's clients include many of the world's leading automakers, as well as companies in the consumer electronics and mobile device industries. Cerence has received several awards for its technology, including the 2020 CES Innovation Award for its Cerence Drive platform.
Learn more about Cerence Inc.
Size
1,200 employees
Market Cap
$726.1 million
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$12.7 million
5 Year Trend
+6%
Revenue
$347.1 million
* Ladders Estimates

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