Principal/Staff Technical Program Manager, Engineering

Simbe; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Simbe is hiring a Technical Program Manager to be the connective tissue across hardware, ROS-based robotics software, AI models, and cloud data pipelines for Tally deployments in stores. You will own cross-functional schedules, define done criteria, and drive end-to-end deployment readiness from build to field, with emphasis on delivering live, stable store deployments on external dates.

In your first 30 days you’ll map dependencies across hardware, embedded software, cloud platforms, and AI,

Qualifications

• Hands-on technical experience spanning hardware and robotics software.
• Depth in ROS or robotics software, or cloud/data platforms.
• Ability to guide engineers and influence decisions without direct reporting lines.
• Track record delivering hardware/software projects to customer sites with fixed dates.
• Efficient in building minimal processes to reduce friction.

Responsibilities

• Own cross-functional schedule for high-stakes programs and external rollout dates.
• Define completion criteria and ownership for hardware-to-ROS, edge inference, and cloud data pipelines.
• Ensure end-to-end deployment readiness from build to field in stores.
• Maintain risk visibility with dependency mapping and top-risks reviews.
• Establish lightweight cross-functional cadences with concrete inputs.

Skills

Hands-on experience

ROS or robotics software

Cloud/data platforms

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Simbe builds Tally, an autonomous shelf-scanning robot deployed at fleet scale in enterprise grocery and retail. Tally is a ROS-based robotics platform paired with edge and cloud AI/computer vision, a cloud data platform, and retailer-facing reporting systems, spanning multiple hardware generations and product lines (mobile, fixed, RFID). Delivering a release means coordinating hardware, on-robot software, AI models, and cloud systems simultaneously, on a schedule where the finish line is a working robot in a real store, not a demo. We're hiring a Technical Program Manager to be the connective tissue across this system: the person who can see the full dependency graph, from a hardware decision through the robot's software stack, through the AI model, through the cloud pipeline, to what a retail partner sees on their dashboard, and make sure nothing falls through the seams between teams.

What You’ll Own

• The cross-functional schedule for Simbe’s highest-stakes programs: new Tally generation launches, fleet-wide software/hardware migrations, and large retail rollouts with hard external dates
• Integration checkpoints wherever domains meet: hardware-to-ROS (on-robot software), CV model deployment onto the robot (edge inference, with real-time and compute constraints on the robot itself) alongside cloud-side model updates and data pipeline flow, and backend-to-retailer-facing reporting. For each, you define what "done" means, who owns it, and what happens when it slips
• Deployment readiness end to end: a program isn’t complete when engineering ships it, it’s complete when it’s live and stable in stores. You own the handoff from build to field.
• Visibility into risk before it’s a crisis: dependency mapping, a standing cross-functional review cadence, and a top-risks list that leadership actually trusts because you can defend it technically

Your first 30 days

• Build a single dependency graph spanning hardware, embedded software, cloud/data platform, and AI/CV for the two highest-priority programs
• Identify and document the top risks to the nearest hard external date, with enough specificity that engineering leads agree it’s accurate
• Stand up a lightweight cross-functional review cadence with real inputs from each function, not a status meeting

What You Bring

• Hands-on technical experience: you’ve personally built, integrated, or debugged a complex product that spans physical hardware and robotics software, not just managed a team that did.
• Depth in at least one of hardware/robotics software (ROS or comparable middleware) or cloud/data platforms, real fluency across the others.
• Comfort driving a room of engineers who don’t report to you. You guide decisions and shape estimates through technical insight and collaborative problem-solving.
• A track record on programs where a hardware or software slip has real-world consequences, a customer site, a fleet in the field, a fixed external date, not just an internal roadmap
• The instinct to build only as much process as removes friction. This role exists because delivery today depends heavily on a small number of people going above and beyond. The job is to build the systems and cadence that make that unnecessary, not to add processes that slow down people who are already delivering.

What This Role Is Not

• Not a project coordinator tracking a spreadsheet someone else fills in
• Not scoped to hardware alone: you’re equally at home in a conversation about a ROS navigation stack issue, an edge CV model that’s missing its inference budget on-robot, and a cloud data pipeline delay
• Not a substitute for engineering leadership: you drive cross-functional execution, you don’t own the technical roadmap or make architecture calls

At Simbe, you will be at the forefront of retail innovation, working with cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies to transform retail operations.

Simbe Values: R. E. T. A. I. L.

Result Driven - We are customer-centric and results-driven. We strive to create immense value for our team, partners, customers, and investors.

Empathetic - We are sensitive and mindful. We support each other in challenging times, both professionally and personally.

Transparent - We highly value open communication internally, and with our partners and customers. We are receptive to feedback.

Agile - We are agile and always eager to learn. We quickly adapt to changes and customer needs.

Innovative - We are bold and innovative, with an intense focus on product design and user experience.

Leaders - We strive for excellence. We are accountable, the best at what we do, and leaders in our field.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

The base salary offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including equity compensation, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.