Apptronik

Senior Director, Program Management Office

Austin, TX Full Time

Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better.  We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products. 

You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools. It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it.

JOB SUMMARY

We’re seeking a Senior Director of PMO to own cross-functional execution and ensure our humanoid robot programs deliver on schedule, scope, and quality. You will partner closely with peer leaders of engineering, product and operations organizations to define roadmaps and define annual operating plans for the company.  You will lead a growing team of technical program managers across hardware and software, build scalable product development processes, and instrument programs with clear metrics and dashboards. This role is accountable for turning strategy into shipped product and for driving execution across the entire organization.

What You’ll Do (first 12 months focus)

  • Develop and mentor the existing team while working to hire and onboard world-class TPMs; establish role clarity, leveling, and grow the capabilities of the PMO. 
  • Implement metrics-driven portfolio and program dashboards for presentation to C-Suite leadership for new product developments as well as deployment and sustaining programs.
  • Engage deeply as needed to ensure schedules are aggressive, credible, and appropriately tracked.  Ensure timely and high-quality decisions are being made on key programs. 
  • Work with TPMs and cross-functional leaders to raise the bar on forward looking planning that ties hardware, firmware, software, controls, perception, simulation, test, and manufacturing build plans together.

Responsibilities

  • Own the portfolio roadmap execution for humanoid robot programs; deliver to launch dates with exceptional products.
  • Create real-time dashboards for schedule, cost, scope, quality, and risk; standardize metrics and reporting rhythms for exec and team levels.
  • Work closely with key external development partners to align on key milestones and deliverables
  • Partner with Product on requirements flow-down and with Engineering on plans of record, staffing, and sequencing.
  • Build a forward-looking capacity model (headcount, supplier bandwidth) to derisk integration and production ramps; partner with Finance on budgets and with HR on workforce planning.
  • Develop PMO playbooks, templates, and training; continuously improve processes based on data.

Qualifications

  • 10+ years driving complex electromechanical + software programs (robotics, autonomous systems, hardware + embedded + application SW, or similar).
  • 5+ years leading TPMs/PMs or a PMO; proven record shipping hardware-software products to market.
  • Strong systems mindset: requirements flow-down, interface management, verification & validation, integration planning.
  • Executive-level communication; calm in ambiguity with a very strong bias for action.
  • Experience bringing first-of-kind products from prototype to pilot to scaled production.
  • Familiarity with reliability growth, safety certification, and manufacturability for electro-mechanical systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer 
  • Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times 
  • Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen 
  • Hearing and speech to communicate

 

 

*This is a direct hire.  Please, no outside Agency solicitations. 

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.