Free robotics engineer job description templates: general, entry, senior, software, integrator, and defense, with FLSA and ITAR guidance. Download as DOCX.
6 free templates across general, software, small-integrator, and defense robotics, with the FLSA exemption, ITAR US Person, and IP guidance the template farms skip. Download as DOCX.
A robotics engineer job description has a clear center and two parts the generic templates always skip. The center: a robotics engineer designs, builds, and tests robotic systems, integrating mechanical, electrical, and software work. But the role splits along a hardware-versus-software line worth naming, a controls engineer at a small integrator is a different hire from a perception engineer at a venture-backed startup. The parts the templates skip: which FLSA exemption applies (learned professional or computer employee), and, for defense work, how to write the ITAR requirement without crossing into illegal citizenship discrimination. Get those right, and the posting describes the engineer you actually want.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the small automation integrators and manufacturers that make this hire, the regional robot shops and controls firms without an HR department, and we add the FLSA, ITAR, and IP guidance the template farms leave out. The six below cover the main types plus entry, senior, integrator, and defense versions. The guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
A robotics engineer designs, builds, and tests robotic systems. The role splits into hardware/controls (common at small integrators) and software (perception and autonomy, often at well-funded startups). It is almost always FLSA exempt, under the learned professional exemption for hardware or the computer employee exemption for software. For defense work, require a US Person per ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), never "US citizens only." There is no dedicated federal code; it maps to engineers, all other (median $117,750, May 2024). Download as DOCX.
What a Robotics Engineer Does
A robotics engineer designs, develops, and tests robotic systems, working across design and development, programming and data, testing and integration, and review and documentation. The emphasis shifts between hardware and software focus.
There is no dedicated federal occupation code for robotics engineer; the role maps to the robotics engineers classification, which rolls up into the broader engineers, all other category for federal wage data.
Hardware vs Software vs Defense
The most useful thing to settle before writing is which robotics engineer you mean, because the hardware, software, and defense versions draw different candidates.
Hardware / Controls Robotics Engineer
The integrator core
Designs the mechanical, electrical, and control systems of robots and integrates them into working cells. Common at automation integrators and manufacturers, and the closest fit for a small-business hire.
Robotics Software Engineer
Perception and autonomy
Builds the software that drives robots: perception, motion planning, control, and autonomy, often in frameworks like ROS. Higher-paid and concentrated at well-funded startups and larger companies.
Defense / Aerospace Robotics
Export controlled
Robotics work for defense or aerospace, where technical data is often ITAR or EAR controlled. The role is the same engineering, but access is restricted to US Persons and may require a clearance.
Not an Automation Engineer or Technician
Related but separate
An automation engineer (broader process automation) and a robotics technician (installs and maintains, not designs) are related but distinct roles with their own postings, not this engineering role.
Name the Focus and Industry
Physical and control systems: hardware/controls engineer (the integrator core). Perception and autonomy software: robotics software engineer. Export-controlled work: defense/ITAR-aware. And note that an automation engineer (broader) and a robotics technician (installs and maintains) are separate roles, not this one.
Robotics Engineer Duties and Responsibilities
A robotics engineer's duties cluster into design and development, programming and data, testing and integration, and review and documentation. The balance shifts by focus, but these four areas hold across the role.
Design and development
Design robotic systems and components
Integrate mechanical, electrical, software
Develop control and motion
Programming and data
Program robot behavior
Process sensor data
Tune control loops and algorithms
Testing and integration
Build and test systems
Debug and troubleshoot
Commission and deploy
Review and documentation
Review and approve designs
Document designs and code
Drive safety and quality
A hardware engineer leans on mechanical and electrical design and integration; a software engineer on perception, planning, and control code. For a structured way to scope the role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by focus and industry, then by seniority. The engineering core runs through all six, but the focus, the compliance, and the pay differ enough that the matched version reaches the right candidates. Use this guide to choose.
General Robotics Engineer
The core role
The standard role: designing, building, and testing robotic systems across mechanical, electrical, and software. The right starting point for most companies.
Entry-Level
Early career
For an early-career engineer supporting design, programming, and testing under guidance, with internships counting toward experience.
Senior
Lead and mentor
For a senior role leading complex systems, setting technical direction, and mentoring engineers, with a strong delivery track record.
Robotics Software Engineer
Perception and autonomy
For the software side: perception, planning, control, and autonomy in robotics frameworks, with a programming-heavy skill set.
Small Automation Integrator
Owner-run, no HR
The flagship version for a small integrator hiring an engineer to own projects end to end, from cell design to on-site commissioning.
Defense / ITAR-Aware
Export controlled
For defense and aerospace work, with correct ITAR US Person language and clearance conditions written to avoid discrimination liability.
Match the Template to the Hire
General robotics: General. Early career: Entry-Level. Lead and mentor: Senior. Software focus: Robotics Software Engineer. Small integrator owning projects end to end: Small Automation Integrator. Export-controlled defense work: Defense / ITAR-Aware. Whichever you pick, classify as exempt and handle IP.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company overview, position summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, a compliance note, and how to apply. Fill in the brackets, set the company and reporting line, and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, entry-level, senior, software, small integrator, and defense/ITAR-aware robotics engineer. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Robotics Engineer (General)
The standard role: designing, building, and testing robotic systems across mechanical, electrical, and software. The right starting point for most companies.
Robotics Engineer Job Description (General)
ROBOTICS ENGINEER JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL)
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Engineering Manager / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; confirm by duties)
Compensation: $______ per year [+ benefits]
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Company Name] is a [type] company in [City, State]. We are hiring a Robotics
Engineer to design, build, and test robotic systems for our [application].
POSITION SUMMARY
The Robotics Engineer designs, develops, and tests robotic systems and their
components, integrating mechanical, electrical, and software elements. You will
take robots from concept through build, testing, and deployment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Design and develop robotic systems and components
•Integrate mechanical, electrical, and control systems
•Program and test robot behavior and motion
•Process sensor data and tune control loops
•Debug and troubleshoot robotic systems
•Review and approve designs and test results
•Document designs, code, and procedures
•Collaborate across engineering and production
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in robotics, mechanical, electrical, or related engineering
•[3+] years of robotics or automation experience
•Skills in controls, programming, and CAD
•Experience with sensors, actuators, and integration
•Strong problem-solving and testing skills
•Familiarity with safety standards for robotics
COMPLIANCE NOTE (read before posting)
Robotics engineers are typically exempt under the FLSA learned professional
exemption (software roles may fit the computer employee exemption); confirm by
duties and salary. The offer should include an IP assignment and NDA. For
defense work, use ITAR "US Person" language, not "US citizens only." This is
general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are
available for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $______ per year [+ benefits]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Template 2: Entry-Level Robotics Engineer
For an early-career engineer supporting design, programming, and testing under guidance, with internships counting toward experience.
Entry-Level Robotics Engineer Job Description
ENTRY-LEVEL ROBOTICS ENGINEER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Senior Engineer / Engineering Manager]
Employment type: Full-time, W-2
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; confirm by duties and salary)
Compensation: $______ per year [+ benefits]
ABOUT THIS ROLE
An entry-level robotics engineer supports the design, build, and testing of
robotic systems under the guidance of senior engineers, while building toward
independent project work.
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Entry-Level Robotics Engineer to support our
robotics projects. You will assist with design, programming, and testing, and
grow into owning your own work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Support design and development of robotic systems
•Assist with programming and testing
•Help integrate mechanical, electrical, and control parts
•Run tests and collect and analyze data
•Help debug and troubleshoot under guidance
•Document work and results
•Learn the team's tools and processes
•Collaborate with senior engineers
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in robotics, mechanical, electrical, or related engineering
•[0-2] years of experience (internships count)
•Foundational skills in controls, programming, and CAD
•Familiarity with sensors and actuators
•Eagerness to learn and take feedback
•Strong fundamentals and problem-solving
COMPLIANCE NOTE
Confirm exempt status by duties and salary (must meet the $684/week threshold).
Include an IP assignment and NDA in the offer. For defense work, use ITAR "US
Person" language. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $______ per year [+ benefits]
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
This is the part the template farms skip, and for a robotics engineer it carries real legal weight, especially the export-control wording for defense work. Three issues belong in the hiring decision.
FLSA: which exemption applies
A robotics engineer is almost always exempt from overtime, but the right exemption depends on the work. A hardware, mechanical, or controls engineer fits the learned professional exemption, since engineering is a recognized field of science requiring an advanced degree. A robotics software engineer may instead fit the computer employee exemption, which covers software roles paid at least $684 a week on a salary basis or $27.63 an hour. Either way the salary threshold must be met, and the exemption is duties-based rather than title-based, so confirm the role meets the relevant test. State the exempt status in the offer. This is general information, not legal advice.
ITAR/EAR: write US Person, not citizens only
For defense and aerospace robotics, technical data is often controlled under ITAR or EAR, and access is limited to a US Person, defined in 22 CFR 120.62 to include US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain protected individuals. The critical drafting point: do not write US citizens only. Neither ITAR nor EAR requires citizenship, and restricting hiring to citizens can trigger national-origin and citizenship discrimination liability under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which the Department of Justice has enforced with civil penalties. The correct phrasing is that the candidate must be a US Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), with export-authorization language as needed.
IP assignment and NDA
Robotics engineers create valuable intellectual property, so the offer or employment agreement should include an IP assignment clause and a nondisclosure agreement, signed at onboarding. For an employee, this confirms that designs, code, and inventions created within the scope of employment belong to the company, and it matters for patents as well as copyright. Naming the IP assignment and NDA in the posting sets expectations up front, and storing the signed documents centrally gives you the records you need if ownership of a design or invention is ever questioned.
Clearance, H-1B, and records
Defense work may require a security clearance, which does require US citizenship and should be stated as a condition where it applies. Robotics is also a common H-1B occupation, so if you sponsor, you must pay the prevailing wage under the Department of Labor's labor condition application. And because ITAR requires export-control records to be retained for five years, a small defense-adjacent shop should store compliance documentation centrally from the start. Build these into onboarding rather than handling them ad hoc. This is general information, not legal advice.
Pick the Right Exemption, and Never Write Citizens Only
A hardware robotics engineer is exempt as a learned professional; a software one may fit the computer employee exemption (salary or $27.63/hour). For defense work, require a US Person per ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), never "US citizens only," since neither ITAR nor EAR requires citizenship and over-restricting can trigger discrimination liability under the INA. Add an IP assignment and NDA. This is general information, not legal advice.
Requirements and Qualifications
This is a degreed engineering role. Match the skill set to the focus, hardware and controls or software, and the seniority to the level.
Requirement
What to know
Education
Bachelor's in robotics, mechanical, electrical, or CS (Job Zone 4)
Exempt (learned professional or computer employee)
Defense work
US Person per ITAR (22 CFR 120.62); clearance if required
Match the requirements to the focus and level. The O*NET profile for robotics engineers covers the skill set, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
How to Write a Robotics Engineer Job Description
A strong robotics posting takes shape once you name the focus, set the level, and handle the compliance pieces. Here is the process the templates are built around.
1
Name which engineer you need
The role splits into hardware/controls and software. Add the industry (integration, defense). Pick the matching template.
2
Set the seniority
The role ranges from entry-level to senior. Pick the level and the matching template.
3
List the real responsibilities
Design and development, programming and data, testing and integration, and review and documentation, calibrated to type and level.
4
Spell out qualifications
A bachelor's in robotics or related engineering, the relevant experience, and skills in controls, programming, CAD, or robotics frameworks.
5
Handle FLSA, ITAR, and IP
Exempt under the right exemption (learned professional or computer employee). Add IP assignment and NDA. Use ITAR US Person language for defense.
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on protected characteristics, which is also why ITAR wording has to use US Person, not citizens only.
Robotics Engineer Pay and Outlook
Robotics engineer pay varies sharply by focus and employer, and because there is no dedicated federal code, the closest benchmark is the engineers, all other category.
Pay and Demand (BLS)
The closest federal category, engineers, all other, had a median wage of $117,750 in May 2024, with about 158,800 employed and employment projected to grow about 2% from 2024 to 2034 (O*NET, using BLS data).
Pay diverges by focus: hardware and controls engineers at automation integrators tend to sit around or somewhat above that median, while robotics software engineers in perception, autonomy, and machine learning at well-funded startups and large tech companies often earn substantially more, with total compensation well above $180,000 at the top end. Entry-level engineers earn below the median and senior engineers above it, and high-cost tech hubs pay a premium. Because the role is exempt and salaried, describe the pay as an annual salary, and benchmark to your specific focus and region rather than a single national figure. National compensation surveys are the right reference for focus-specific and seniority detail.
Hiring a Robotics Engineer
The robotics employer base is bimodal: by company count it is dominated by small automation integrators and manufacturers, many under fifty people and without an HR department, while the capital and the highest-paid roles concentrate in well-funded startups, defense primes, and large manufacturers. Here is what actually matters when a smaller company makes this hire.
Robotics engineer splits into hardware and software, so name which you mean
A robotics engineer designs, builds, and tests robotic systems, but the role splits along a line worth naming in the posting. A hardware, mechanical, or controls robotics engineer works on the physical and electrical systems and integrates them into working cells, the kind of engineer a small automation integrator or manufacturer hires. A robotics software engineer builds the software that drives the robot, perception, motion planning, control, and autonomy, often in frameworks like ROS, and tends to be higher paid and concentrated at well-funded startups and larger companies. There is also a defense and aerospace variant where the same engineering runs into export-control rules. And two nearby titles are genuinely different jobs: an automation engineer covers broader process automation, and a robotics technician installs and maintains rather than designs. Naming which engineer you need, and your industry, keeps the posting from drawing a mismatched mix of candidates.
The employer base is split between small integrators and well-funded enterprises
Be realistic about who hires robotics engineers, because it is genuinely bimodal. By number of companies, the field is dominated by small businesses: most North American automation and system integrators have fewer than fifty employees, and there are thousands of these regional robot shops, controls firms, and small manufacturers adding their first cobot, many running without an HR department. By capital and hiring volume, though, the top of the market is concentrated in well-funded robotics startups, defense primes, and large manufacturers with People teams and enterprise budgets. So a small integrator hiring a controls-focused robotics engineer is a very different situation from a venture-backed startup hiring a perception engineer, even though both search the same term. If you are a small integrator or manufacturer making this hire, the small-integrator template on this page is written for your reality: one engineer who owns projects end to end, without a formal HR function behind the hire.
FLSA exemption choice and ITAR wording are the traps to get right
Two compliance points separate a careful robotics posting from a generic one, and the template farms skip both. The first is the FLSA exemption: a hardware or controls engineer is exempt as a learned professional, while a software engineer may instead qualify under the computer employee exemption, which has its own salary-or-hourly test, so pick the right basis rather than assuming the title settles it. The second, and the one with real legal teeth, is export control. For defense or aerospace work where data is ITAR or EAR controlled, access is limited to a US Person as defined in the regulations, which includes permanent residents, not just citizens. Writing US citizens only is a common and costly mistake, since neither rule requires citizenship and the Department of Justice has fined employers for citizenship discrimination under the INA. Write US Person as defined by ITAR instead, and add a separate clearance condition only where a clearance genuinely applies. This is general information, not legal advice.
After You Hire: Onboarding
The job description is step one, and for a robotics engineer the onboarding should pay particular attention to the IP and, where relevant, export-control paperwork, since those are the parts most likely to cause problems if missed. Start with the employment basics: get the offer or employment agreement signed with the compensation and exempt status, complete Form I-9 within the first days along with the rest of the new hire paperwork, and gather tax forms.
Then handle the role-specific items: get the IP assignment and NDA signed before the engineer starts creating designs or code, and for defense work confirm and document the US Person determination under ITAR and set up export-control records, which ITAR requires you to keep for five years. Store the signed onboarding documents centrally, the kind of structured start the employee onboarding guide describes, since these are the records you will need if ownership or compliance is ever questioned.
A documented, repeatable onboarding process keeps the IP and compliance steps from slipping. FirstHR supports it directly: an onboarding wizard and task workflows so each step is tracked, e-signature for the offer, IP assignment, and NDA, document management for IP and export-control records, training modules, and a simple HRIS with an org chart as the company grows. Because pricing is flat rather than per seat, a small integrator pays one rate as it scales. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with a payroll provider. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A robotics engineer designs, builds, and tests robotic systems; the role splits into hardware/controls and software focuses.
Name the focus and industry in the posting, since a small-integrator controls engineer and a startup perception engineer draw different candidates.
The role is almost always FLSA exempt: learned professional for hardware, computer employee for software (salary or $27.63/hour).
For defense work, require a US Person per ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), never 'US citizens only,' which can trigger discrimination liability under the INA.
Robotics engineers create valuable IP, so the offer should include an IP assignment and NDA, signed at onboarding.
There is no dedicated federal code; the role maps to engineers, all other (median $117,750, May 2024, about 158,800 employed).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a robotics engineer do?
A robotics engineer designs, develops, and tests robotic systems, integrating mechanical, electrical, and software elements into working robots. The duties cluster into a few areas: design and development, including designing systems and components and integrating mechanical, electrical, and control parts; programming and data, including programming robot behavior, processing sensor data, and tuning control loops and algorithms; testing and integration, including building and testing systems, debugging, and commissioning; and review and documentation, including reviewing designs, documenting code, and driving safety and quality. The role splits along a hardware-versus-software line: a hardware or controls robotics engineer works on the physical and electrical systems, common at automation integrators and manufacturers, while a robotics software engineer builds perception, planning, control, and autonomy software, often in frameworks like ROS. There are also industry variants, including a defense and aerospace version where the work involves export-controlled data. This page includes a template for the main types plus entry-level, senior, small-integrator, and defense versions.
What is the difference between a robotics engineer and a robotics software engineer or technician?
A robotics engineer is the broad role that designs, builds, and tests robotic systems across mechanical, electrical, and software domains. A robotics software engineer is a specialization focused on the software that drives robots, perception, motion planning, control, and autonomy, usually requiring strong programming and algorithms and often working in robotics frameworks. The two overlap, and at a small company one engineer may do both, while at a larger one they are separate roles. A robotics technician is a genuinely different job: technicians install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair robotic systems rather than design them, and the role maps to a different occupation with different education requirements and pay. There is also the automation engineer, who covers broader process and systems automation that may or may not center on robots. When you write a posting, the practical move is to describe the actual work, hardware design, software development, or maintenance, rather than relying on the title, since these roles blur in everyday usage. The templates on this page cover the engineering roles; a robotics technician would be a separate posting.
Is a robotics engineer exempt or non-exempt from overtime?
A robotics engineer is almost always exempt from overtime, but the basis for the exemption depends on the kind of work. A hardware, mechanical, or controls robotics engineer is exempt under the FLSA learned professional exemption, since engineering is a recognized field of science or learning that requires advanced knowledge from a prolonged course of specialized instruction, and the role is paid above the salary threshold. A robotics software engineer may instead be analyzed under the computer employee exemption, which the Department of Labor applies to software engineers and similar roles paid at least $684 a week on a salary basis or at least $27.63 an hour. Either way, the salary threshold must be met and the exemption is based on actual duties rather than the job title, so confirm the specific role qualifies. In practice almost all robotics engineers are exempt given the degree requirement and pay levels, but you should still state the exempt status in the offer and confirm the right exemption for the work. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm classification with a professional.
How should a robotics engineer job description handle ITAR and citizenship?
Carefully, because this is the most common legal trap in defense-adjacent robotics postings. For defense or aerospace work, technical data is often controlled under ITAR or EAR, and access is limited to a US Person, which the regulations define in 22 CFR 120.62 to include US citizens, lawful permanent residents (green-card holders), and certain protected individuals such as refugees and asylees. The critical point is what not to write: do not say US citizens only. Neither ITAR nor EAR requires citizenship, and restricting a role to citizens can expose the employer to liability for national-origin and citizenship discrimination under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which the Department of Justice has actively enforced, fining employers who over-restricted positions in a mistaken attempt at ITAR compliance. The correct phrasing is that the candidate must be a US Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), with export-authorization language if needed. A separate security clearance, which does require citizenship, can be listed as its own condition only where a clearance genuinely applies to the role. This is general information, not legal advice; consult an export-control or employment attorney.
Does a small business hire robotics engineers, and is FirstHR a fit?
Yes, and small automation integrators are a real part of who hires robotics engineers, though the market is bimodal. By number of companies, the field is dominated by small businesses: most North American automation and system integrators have fewer than fifty employees, and there are thousands of regional robot shops, controls and PLC firms, and small manufacturers installing their first collaborative robot, many without an HR department. By capital and hiring volume, the top of the market is concentrated in well-funded robotics startups, defense primes, and large manufacturers that have People teams and enterprise budgets and are not the typical fit for a flat-rate tool. So whether FirstHR fits depends on which end you are: a small integrator or manufacturer making this hire is squarely the fit. For that employer, FirstHR helps with the onboarding and the compliance paperwork the role needs: e-signature for the offer, IP assignment, and NDA, document management for export-control and IP records, onboarding workflows, and a simple HRIS. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with a payroll provider, and applicant tracking is coming soon.
How do I write a robotics engineer job description?
Start by naming which engineer you need, since the role splits into hardware/controls and software, and add the industry, such as automation integration or defense. Pick the matching template and set the seniority, from entry-level to senior. Write an honest position summary and list the real responsibilities across design and development, programming and data, testing and integration, and review and documentation, calibrated to the type and level. Spell out the qualifications: typically a bachelor's degree in robotics or a related engineering field, the relevant years of experience, and skills in controls, programming, CAD, or robotics frameworks depending on the focus. Handle the compliance pieces that the template farms skip: classify the role as exempt under the right FLSA exemption (learned professional for hardware, computer employee for software), include an IP assignment and NDA, and for defense work use the correct ITAR US Person language rather than US citizens only. Set compensation from engineering survey data for the focus and region, and add an equal-opportunity statement. The templates on this page give you a ready structure for each type and level with the FLSA, ITAR, and IP pieces built in.
How much does a robotics engineer make?
Robotics engineer pay varies by focus, region, and employer, and there is no dedicated federal occupation code, so the closest federal benchmark is the engineers, all other category, which is where robotics engineers map in the federal system. That category had a median annual wage of about $117,750 in May 2024. Pay diverges sharply by focus: hardware and controls robotics engineers, common at automation integrators, tend to sit around or somewhat above that median, while robotics software engineers, especially in perception, autonomy, and machine learning at well-funded startups and large tech companies, often earn substantially more, with total compensation reaching well above $180,000 at the top end. Entry-level engineers earn below the median and senior engineers above it, and high-cost tech hubs pay a premium. Because the role is exempt and salaried, describe the pay as an annual salary, and for a posting, benchmark to your specific focus, hardware versus software, and your region rather than a single national figure. National compensation surveys are the right reference for focus-specific and seniority detail beyond the federal median.
What happens after I hire a robotics engineer?
Run a structured onboarding, and pay particular attention to the intellectual-property and, where relevant, export-control paperwork, since those are the parts most likely to cause problems if missed. Start with the employment basics: get the offer or employment agreement signed with the compensation and exempt status, complete Form I-9 within the first days, and gather tax forms. Then handle the role-specific items: get the IP assignment and NDA signed before the engineer starts creating designs or code, and store them centrally, since these are the records you will need if ownership of a design or invention is ever questioned. For defense or aerospace work, confirm and document the US Person determination under ITAR, set up export-control records (which ITAR requires you to keep for five years), and confirm any required clearance. Then set the engineer up to do the work: give them access to design tools, code, and lab or shop equipment, walk them through current projects and standards, introduce them to the team, and set early check-ins. A documented, repeatable onboarding process keeps the IP and compliance steps from slipping. FirstHR supports it with an onboarding wizard and task workflows, e-signature for the offer, IP assignment, and NDA, document management for IP and export-control records, training modules, and a simple HRIS with an org chart. FirstHR does not run payroll or administer benefits, and applicant tracking is coming soon.
