Head of Autonomous Delivery Technology - Robotics

Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 200,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd in Singapore seeks a senior technology leader to shape and deliver automated, physical operations. You will connect autonomous equipment, sensors and human workflows into a cohesive operating model, driving speed, reliability and cost efficiency.

You will set direction for technology-enabled operations, oversee deployment across multiple sites and ensure that automation delivers measurable value in complex environments, with strong commercial

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience delivering technology-enabled operations.
• Proven track record deploying automation in complex environments.
• Experience with autonomous equipment or distributed device networks.
• Strong understanding of how hardware, software and operations interact.

Responsibilities

• Define strategy for deploying autonomous equipment and automation across sites.
• Oversee integration of navigation, mapping, sensors and control systems into workflows.
• Establish performance measures for availability, reliability and cost of ownership.
• Evaluate providers and approaches to balance performance, cost and complexity.
• Lead improvements across full operational workflow, not just individual technologies.

Skills

Technology leadership

Robotics

Autonomous systems

Operations integration

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Job description

We are seeking an experienced technology leader to shape and deliver the next generation of automated, technology-enabled physical operations. The role focuses on improving the speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness of time-sensitive, distributed services by connecting autonomous equipment, connected devices and human-operated workflows into a coordinated operating model.

You will set the technical and operational direction, oversee the introduction and expansion of physical technology solutions, and ensure that automation delivers practical value in complex, real-world environments. Success requires a combination of strategic leadership, technical judgement, deployment experience and commercial accountability.

Key areas of responsibility

1. Autonomous systems and distributed operations

• Define the strategy for deploying autonomous equipment across complex operating environments, including the use of remotely operated or automated systems where appropriate.
• Lead the assessment and development of operating procedures, safety controls, infrastructure requirements and contingency arrangements for autonomous operations.
• Establish appropriate approaches to fleet coordination, asset monitoring, operational planning and exception handling.
• Assess the suitability of different hardware, infrastructure and service-provider options, balancing performance, reliability, implementation complexity and long-term cost.
• Work with relevant external parties to address operational constraints, safety expectations and approval requirements.

2. Robotics and automated on-site workflows

• Direct the deployment of mobile robotic systems and related infrastructure in buildings and other constrained environments.
• Oversee the integration of navigation, mapping, access controls, movement coordination and obstacle management into practical operating workflows.
• Lead site assessments, implementation planning, pilot deployments and subsequent expansion across multiple locations.
• Establish performance measures covering availability, task completion, service reliability, maintenance requirements and overall cost of ownership.
• Evaluate technology providers and alternative technical approaches, using operational evidence to guide investment and deployment decisions.

3. Connected devices and operational automation

• Develop the approach to using connected hardware and automated data capture to reduce manual intervention and improve the timeliness and accuracy of operational information.
• Oversee the integration of sensors, edge devices, communications infrastructure and software platforms into end-to-end operating processes.
• Ensure that device fleets can be monitored and maintained effectively, with suitable arrangements for software updates, fault detection, remote diagnosis and lifecycle support.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of physical technology across distributed operating sites, including installation planning, onboarding, training and ongoing support.
• Improve the quality and availability of real-time operational signals so that planning, resource allocation and task execution can respond to changing conditions.

4. Integrated operating model

• Bring together automated systems, connected equipment and human-operated activities into a coherent service model.
• Address the practical challenges that arise when work transfers between people, machines and different operating stages.
• Ensure that information from physical equipment feeds into relevant planning and coordination systems, supporting effective allocation of resources and timely execution.
• Identify process bottlenecks, recurring failures and unnecessary manual steps, then lead improvements across the full operational workflow rather than optimising individual technologies in isolation.
• Establish clear operating standards, escalation procedures and feedback loops to support consistent performance as deployments grow.

5. Strategy, commercial performance and delivery

• Translate business objectives into a prioritised technology roadmap, with clear investment choices, implementation milestones and measurable outcomes.
• Build business cases for equipment, infrastructure and software investments, assessing upfront expenditure, ongoing operating costs, utilisation, maintenance and expected returns.
• Monitor the commercial performance of deployed solutions, including productivity, service quality, asset availability and cost efficiency.
• Where applicable, take ownership of financial performance across technology-led operational initiatives, including investment planning and the economics of scaling.
• Establish appropriate governance for pilots and wider rollouts, ensuring that expansion decisions are informed by demonstrated results.
• Develop productive relationships with technology suppliers, site operators, infrastructure partners and relevant external authorities.

Candidate profile

• Significant professional experience leading technology-enabled operations, robotics, connected hardware or complex hardware-software integration.
• Substantial leadership experience, including responsibility for setting direction, managing delivery and influencing decisions across multiple functions.
• A track record of taking physical technology from technical assessment and early-stage trials through deployment, operational adoption and expansion.
• Experience working with autonomous equipment, distributed device networks or comparable systems that must operate reliably outside controlled laboratory environments.
• Strong understanding of how physical equipment, software platforms, communications infrastructure and operational processes interact.
• Experience evaluating technical suppliers and translating competing technology options into sound implementation and investment decisions.
• Evidence of improving operational performance through automation, better coordination, increased reliability or reduced manual effort.
• Commercial judgement, including the ability to assess investment requirements, ongoing costs, productivity benefits and the financial sustainability of technology deployments.
• Experience managing complex implementation programmes involving internal stakeholders and external organisations.

Technical and functional capabilities

Systems architecture and integration

• Ability to assess end-to-end architectures spanning physical devices, control and coordination platforms, operational data flows and business systems.
• Working knowledge of fleet coordination, device connectivity, real-time monitoring and the integration of automated events into operational workflows.
• Ability to assess the trade-offs between alternative technical approaches, including scalability, resilience, maintainability and implementation cost.

Autonomous technology and operational safety

• Understanding of autonomous-system deployment, operational risk assessment, safety management and contingency planning.
• Familiarity with the practical considerations involved in deploying automated equipment in busy, shared or otherwise constrained environments.
• Ability to assess the infrastructure, operating procedures and external approvals needed to support safe and dependable operations.

Robotics and physical deployment

• Understanding of mobile robotics, navigation, mapping, obstacle avoidance and coordination across multiple devices.
• Experience assessing access constraints, site readiness, equipment availability, maintenance needs and the practical limitations of real-world deployments.
• Ability to compare supplier solutions using evidence of performance, reliability, serviceability and lifecycle cost.

Connected hardware and device management

• Understanding of sensor-based systems, embedded or edge computing, wireless communications and the movement of device data into central platforms.
• Familiarity with large-scale device administration, remote software updates, health monitoring, fault alerts and maintenance processes.
• Experience evaluating automated detection or status-reporting solutions, including their accuracy, installation requirements, failure modes and ongoing support costs.

Operational execution and commercial management

• Ability to convert technical capabilities into workable processes, measurable service improvements and scalable operating practices.
• Experience establishing performance indicators, reviewing operational evidence and resolving issues that affect reliability, throughput or cost.
• Strong understanding of investment appraisal, operating expenditure, asset utilisation and the relationship between technology performance and financial outcomes.

Leadership and stakeholder management

• Able to communicate complex technical and operational trade-offs clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Skilled at aligning engineering, operations, commercial and other relevant functions around shared priorities.
• Comfortable influencing external stakeholders whose cooperation is necessary for implementation, access, safety or operational approval.
• Practical and delivery-focused, with the judgement to distinguish promising demonstrations from solutions that can be supported reliably at scale.
• Effective in environments where requirements evolve and success depends on coordinating multiple technologies, suppliers and operating processes.

Additional strengths

The following would be advantageous:

• Direct accountability for the financial performance of capital-intensive technology or automation initiatives.
• Experience managing the economics of mixed human-and-automated operating models.
• Experience taking connected physical products from initial evaluation to broad operational adoption.
• Exposure to regulated or safety-sensitive operating environments and the associated governance requirements.
• Experience establishing repeatable deployment methods across multiple sites or geographically distributed operations.

What success looks like

Success in this position will be demonstrated through:

• A clear, prioritised roadmap for technology adoption and operational improvement.
• Reliable integration of equipment, software and human activities into cohesive workflows.
• Successful deployment and expansion of physical technology, supported by effective implementation and maintenance practices.
• Reduced manual intervention, fewer avoidable delays and improved operational consistency.
• Measurable improvements in asset utilisation, service reliability, productivity and cost efficiency.
• Investment decisions supported by credible business cases and evidence of sustainable operating economics.
• Strong working relationships with internal functions, technology providers and external stakeholders.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who can connect technology strategy with operational execution and build systems that deliver measurable results in complex physical environments.