35+ Robotics Engineer Interview Questions 

The world of robotics engineering is quickly expanding, with more organizations purchasing and implementing robotic systems. Robotics engineers play an essential role in developing robotics systems, but the use cases and applications of robotics can be endless. 

For engineers just getting started in their robotics careers, it’s an exciting time to start the job hunt and prepare for interviews. But if you’re a hire manager and looking for an entry-level robotics engineer or even someone with more advanced expertise, check out these robotics engineer interview questions to help find the best candidate for your organization! 

What Is a Robotics Engineer? 

As robotic systems vary widely in complexity and application, robotics engineers combine key principles from mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering to make innovative robotic technologies work. With the right approach, robotics engineers can be responsible for everything from design and development to blending hardware and software to ongoing maintenance.   

What Skills Should a Robotics Engineer Have? 

Robotics engineers are highly skilled and have a diverse set of technical backgrounds. Skills they can use on a day-to-day may include: 

• Mechanical engineering to design the physical components of robots, including kinematics and dynamics 
• Electrical engineering to work with wiring, sensors, power, systems, and more to guide the behavior of robotic systems 
• Computer science and software development, along with proficiency in C++, Python, and Java 
• Advanced mathematics, such as linear algebra and calculus 
• 3-D design tools, such as CAD software, to design and model components 

Pay and Outlook  

According to PayScale, the average robotics engineer’s salary is $93,525, but can get as high as $135,000. But an estimated 19,920 new robotics engineers will be needed by 2029— which highlights the growing need for top talent in this competitive career field. 

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Top Robotics Engineer Interview Questions 

When looking for the most qualified robotics engineer to add to your staff, it’s helpful for hiring managers to ask the right question during interviews. Here are over 30 of the best robotics engineer interview questions. 

Robotics Engineer Interview Questions: Technical 

1. What is the biggest coding challenge you’ve ever experienced? 

2. How would you program continuous path control in a robot? 

3. What is the controller, and why is it important? 

4. Tell me about the most successful robot you ever built and your role in the process. 

5. What coding languages are you proficient in? 

6. How do you think about the role of programming in complex systems? 

7. Tell me about a way a company has used robotics that excites you. 

8. What are some commonly used RPA tools? 

9. Tell me about a time you incorporated artificial intelligence and machine learning into your robots. 

10. Can you explain the difference between forward kinematics and inverse kinematics? 

11. What are the key aspects you consider before designing a robot? 

12. Tell me about a time you implemented or developed a complex algorithm for robot control. 

13. How do you implement computer vision technology to guide robots? 

14. What do you think is the most important stage of building a robot? 

Robotics Engineer Interview Questions: Communication and Collaboration 

15. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it. 

16. What was the time you thought differently than key internal stakeholders and had to change their minds? 

17. How do you approach a team member who handed over faulty, buggy code? 

18. What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

19. Tell me about a project you worked on cross-functionally beyond the engineering team. How did it go? 

20. How would you describe your leadership style? 

21. How would you communicate with a team member who said they were going to miss a deadline? 

22. Tell me about a time a robotics project was off budget or behind on timeline and how you communicated that to leadership. 

23. How do you explain highly technical complex concepts to non-technical people? 

24. Tell me about a time you had to quickly adapt to changing project needs. 

25. What qualities do you look for in an engineering team? 

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Robotics Engineer Interview Questions: Professional Development 

26. What excites you most about robotics? 

27. Why did you choose this field? 

28. What is a fringe application of robotics you’re excited about? 

29. Have you ever led a team? 

30. Are you interested in leading an engineering team, or do you want to remain an engineer? 

31. What’s the most personally fulfilling part of working in robotics? 

32. How do you prioritize continuous learning and development? 

33. Name a recent industry advancement and how you’ve already applied it to your robotics. 

34. How do you incorporate feedback from both peers and leadership? 

35. What professional certifications are you most interested in? 

Hire the Best Robotics Engineer

The right robotics engineer has the proper background, technical skills, and expertise for building and launching robots. Whether your manufacturing business is looking to develop robots on the production floor or you’re a healthcare organization embracing autonomous mobile robots, hiring robotics engineers is important to the development of your technology.   

If you need help with your search, we can help! Our team of experts can source, vet, and even interview candidates in no time so you don’t have to because we make hiring easy. Connect with us today!