It was a tough week. There are hardly ever good weeks for my trade, however this one felt particularly dire. Maybe as a result of it hit near residence. Not that many publications, nevertheless, have been by means of the size of what iRobot is dealing with. After a year-and-a-half of ready, Amazon dropped its bid to buy the Roomba-maker, citing mounting regulatory considerations.

Consequently, iRobot is working by means of yet one more spherical of layoffs. This one is important, amounting to 350 folks — almost one-third of the corporate’s international workforce. Dropping your job sucks, full cease. I’ve been by means of it a few instances myself. It’s tough to shake the sensation of disgrace that surrounds the expertise.

It’s not your fault. That’s a cliché, however it’s a cliché for a cause. Lots of people properly above your pay grade made a sequence of flawed selections, leading to a ultimate resolution that finds you dealing with the results. There are infinite macro elements in play, as properly, however that’s chilly consolation while you don’t know the place your subsequent paycheck is coming from.

The excellent news is that if you happen to work in robotics, you’re going to be okay. The economic system has actually been by means of the ringer over the previous a number of years, however automation has thrived amid the chaos. For those who’re based mostly in a scorching spot like Boston or Pittsburgh, there are at all times openings. For those who’re elsewhere, the excellent news is that the pandemic has helped decentralize the work drive.

For those who’re on the lookout for a brand new gig in robotics, right here’s place to start out.

Agtonomy (6 roles)

Amazon Robotics (10 roles)

Ambi Robotics (1 function)

ANYbotics (27 roles)

Autodesk (1 function)

Berkshire Grey (20 roles)

Bonsai Robotics (6 roles)

Boston Dynamics (10 roles)

BRINC (15 roles)

Burro (10 roles)

Chef Robotics (6 roles)