Christopher Baker

Chief Executive Officer Seegrid

Last Reviewed: September 28, 2026

Executive Summary

Christopher “Chris” Baker is Chief Executive Officer and a director of Seegrid, the Pittsburgh company that builds autonomous mobile robots (lift trucks and tow tractors) and fleet management software for manufacturing, warehousing and logistics facilities. Seegrid named him CEO in September 2025, succeeding Joe Pajer, who retired and stayed on as an advisor to the board. Baker came from New Eagle, an Ann Arbor maker of embedded software and electronic control units for electric and autonomous vehicles, which he had led since February 2024 under private equity owner MiddleGround Capital. New Eagle described him as having spent more than two decades in engineering software and manufacturing, with roles at Hexagon, Romax Technology, MSC Software, Mechanical Simulation and Ford Motor Company. He is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Career Highlights

• Chief Executive Officer of Seegrid since September 2025, and a member of its board of directors.
• Led Seegrid as its robots passed 20 million autonomous miles in customer facilities, announced in May 2026.
• Chief Executive Officer of New Eagle from February 2024. MiddleGround Capital owns the company, which makes embedded control systems for electrified and autonomous vehicles and machines.
• Vice President, System Dynamics at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, where he led the System Dynamics Center of Excellence.
• Senior Vice President, Software Products at Romax Technology, working on its electromechanical physics simulation portfolio.
• Holds degrees from Princeton (BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and the University of Michigan (MSE and MBA).

Professional Journey

Baker trained as a mechanical and aerospace engineer at Princeton, and holds an MSE in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. The MBA, from the Ross School of Business, was awarded with High Distinction. His employers have included Ford Motor Company and, in engineering simulation software, MSC Software, Mechanical Simulation, Romax Technology and Hexagon, in engineering, product management and business development roles; the sources do not date these. At Romax he was Senior Vice President, Software Products, working to reinvent and reposition its electromechanical physics simulation portfolio. At Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence he was Vice President, System Dynamics, leading its System Dynamics Center of Excellence. Seegrid says he has led internal development programmes, technology partnerships and M&A activities over his career.

In February 2024 New Eagle, an Ann Arbor company making embedded software, the Raptor controls platform and electronic control units for electric and hybrid vehicles, autonomous systems and off-highway machines, named him Chief Executive Officer. The appointment came as co-CEO Sanjay Singh retired and co-CEO Kevin Alley became Chief Commercial Officer. Founder Richard Swortzel cited Baker’s “deep company knowledge”, so he had already been involved with the business. Seegrid later said he carried out a company-wide transformation at New Eagle, aligning it with the wider portfolio strategy of its owner, MiddleGround Capital.

Seegrid appointed him CEO in September 2025. The company is based near Pittsburgh International Airport and makes autonomous forklifts and tow tractors, including the Lift RS1 and Lift CR1, together with its Fleet Central management software. He succeeded Joe Pajer, who retired from the role and stayed on as an advisor to the board. Baker also sits on Seegrid’s board of directors. In May 2026 Seegrid announced that its robots had passed 20 million autonomous miles in customer facilities, and Baker described the company as building “a data-driven foundation for Physical AI”.

Seegrid’s biography describes him as a father of five who coaches youth sports and academic teams and plays tennis and trumpet.

Education

Princeton University

BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

MSE, Mechanical Engineering

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

MBA, with High Distinction