Head of Hardware Product Management for Robotics

Grit Ventures; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik, a human-centered robotics company, is seeking a Head of Product Management, Hardware to lead product strategy for robots, peripherals, and components. You will build and mentor a team of PMs, partner with engineering and manufacturing leadership, and drive a cohesive hardware roadmap from concept to mass production.

You will own lifecycle management, define go/no-go criteria, manage cost targets, and ensure safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, systems, or robotics engineering (advanced degree helpful).
• 10+ years in product management or engineering, including 5+ years leading product managers, shipping complex hardware.
• Experience with autonomous robots or similar complex electromechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience with vendors, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal manufacturing teams.
• Strong make-vs-buy decision skills across systems and components.
• Excellent analytical skills with metrics-driven decision making.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, translating technical insight into business impact.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop the hardware product management team.
• Partner with engineering leadership to define and maintain the hardware roadmap.
• Own hardware product strategy across concept to mass production and end-of-life.
• Establish governance, prioritization, and metrics for the team.
• Drive Total Cost of Ownership strategies balancing unit costs and reliability.
• Track portfolio health and report status to executives.
• Lead end-to-end NPI lifecycle with hardware engineering and operations.
• Oversee sustaining, field issue resolution, and end-of-life planning.

Skills

Leadership

Hardware NPI

Robotics experience

Vendor management

Make-vs-buy

Analytics

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, systems, or robotics engineering

MBA helpful

Job description

Apptronik, a human-centered robotics company, is seeking a Head of Product Management, Hardware to lead product strategy for robots, peripherals, and components. You will build and mentor a team of PMs, partner with engineering and manufacturing leadership, and drive a cohesive hardware roadmap from concept to mass production.

You will own lifecycle management, define go/no-go criteria, manage cost targets, and ensure safety and compliance.