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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Technical Program Manager, Robotics Systems - **Company:** ROBOTIC MINDS LLC - **Location:** Palo Alto, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer Engineering, DataOps, Systems Integration, Functional Dependencies, Hardware Infrastructure - **Published:** June 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a8ebe8522e60dc57 ## About the Role Do you have experience in Supplier relationship management (SRM)?, * 10+ years in technical program management, with significant experience owning hardware-software integrated systems at a senior IC level. * Proven track record managing complex electromechanical programs through full development cycles - from early prototype through production or scaled deployment. * Deep instincts around hardware lead times, supplier management, and the downstream program implications of physical iteration cycles. * Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, automotive (EV/software-defined vehicle), semiconductor systems, or adjacent deep tech hardware industries. * Exceptional cross-functional operator: known for bringing clarity to ambiguous programs, not adding process overhead. * Strong technical foundation - comfortable engaging directly with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers at a level of depth that earns credibility. * Startup builder mentality: you create structure from ambiguity, own outcomes end-to-end, and move with urgency. * Experience scaling hardware systems from 0 to meaningful fleet deployment is a strong plus. ## Description We're looking for a Staff Technical Program Manager to serve as the operational and strategic backbone of Mind Robotics' core platform development. This is a founding program management role - the connective tissue between our hardware, software, and data collection teams as we scale from prototype to fleet deployment. You will own the integrated master plan for our robotics platform: the full-stack convergence of dexterous hardware, real-time control systems, and the data flywheel that trains our models. You are not a timeline tracker. You are a systems thinker who can hold the big picture, identify dependencies before they become blockers, and push every team to deliver against a shared roadmap. This role is the difference between hardware and software operating in parallel - and operating as one. You will work directly with our founder and functional leads. You will make this company move faster., * Own the integrated master program plan across hardware, software, and data collection - maintaining a single source of truth for milestones, dependencies, and critical path items. * Identify and surface cross-functional risks before they become schedule-critical blockers; drive resolution with urgency and clarity. * Serve as the primary connective layer between the hardware engineering, software/ML, and data operations teams - ensuring no workstream operates in isolation. * Lead structured program reviews that keep leadership and teams aligned on priorities, trade-offs, and resource requirements. Hardware Program Management * Manage the complexity of our electromechanical system: part-level ownership, supplier lead times, sourcing strategies, and DVT/EVT iteration cycles. * Build and maintain a rigorous parts and supplier tracking system - ensuring every component on the critical path has an owner, a plan, and a fallback. * Partner closely with the hardware lead to translate design decisions into program-level implications across the full stack. * Proactively model the downstream impact of hardware iteration loops on software readiness and data collection timelines. Hardware-Software Integration * Own the integration checkpoints where hardware and software must converge - defining the criteria, the owners, and the escalation path when they don't. * Ensure software feature development is sequenced against hardware availability; prevent decoupled roadmaps from creating surprise dependencies. * Drive alignment on platform commitments - gripper design, sensing modalities, actuation systems - so that data collection and model training are never blocked by an unresolved hardware decision. Roadmap & Milestone Execution * Translate high-level product goals into a detailed, dependency-mapped roadmap with clear ownership at every stage. * Define and track the program milestones that matter: hardware readiness gates, data collection launch criteria, model deployment checkpoints, and fleet scale targets. * Hold the team accountable to commitments without creating bureaucratic drag - this is a role about velocity, not process for its own sake., * Integrated roadmap audit: Map the current state of hardware, software, and data collection timelines into a single dependency graph. Surface the top 5 cross-functional risks within the first 30 days. * Supplier & parts baseline: Establish a living tracker for all hardware components on the critical path - lead times, ownership, sourcing status, and risk flags. * Program cadence: Stand up a lightweight but rigorous cross-functional program review cadence with standardized inputs from each team. Near-Term (Days 30-90) * Hardware-software integration plan: Define the formal integration checkpoints for the first full system build - criteria, owners, and go/no-go gates. * DVT/EVT planning: Working with the hardware lead, map the full iteration loop plan through first deployable units - including resource requirements and schedule risk. * Data collection dependency map: Partner with the data lead to ensure the data flywheel build plan is gated appropriately against hardware readiness milestones. Six-Month Milestone * Path to fleet: Own and maintain the program plan for our first meaningful robot deployment in Normal - with all cross-functional dependencies resolved, resourced, and tracked. ## Related Videos - [Robots are coming into the wild! 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