Robotics AI Strategy and Program Lead

Aquent; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a Robotics AI Strategy & Program Lead in Mountain View, CA to own cross-functional initiatives across AI research, robotics engineering, data infrastructure, and plant operations. You will blend strategic framing, analytics, and hands-on workflow design to advance multi-year platform bets and rapid experiments on the factory floor.

You will partner with researchers, engineers, data scientists, and product managers, translating technical detail into executive-ready narratives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or higher in CS/EE/ME or related technical discipline.
• 4+ years in management consulting, TPM/PM, data analytics, or related fields.
• Experience with AI, ML, robotics, and production environments.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python/R, and dashboarding on modern data platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end, cross-functional initiatives spanning AI research, robotics, data infra, and plant ops.
• Lead strategic framing, roadmaps, and executive-ready narratives for decision-makers.
• Define telemetry, analytics tooling, dashboards, and AI workflow orchestration.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to drive multi-year platform bets.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Program leadership

Executive storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s or higher in CS/EE/ME or related field

Tools

SQL

Python

R

Looker

Power BI

Databricks

Jira

Power Apps

AppSheet

Job description

All candidate must be eligible to work in the US without a sponsorship. No exceptions.

About the Role & Organization

We are building one of the most ambitious AI and robotics programs in manufacturing, developing physical AI systems capable of autonomously manipulating thousands of parts across a global plant network.

Our Robotics AI organization sits at the intersection of cutting-edge AI research, robotics engineering, data infrastructure, and global manufacturing operations. We don't just research — we deploy real technology into physical factories at enterprise scale.

Role Overview

We are seeking a high-caliber Robotics AI Strategy & Program Lead to own end-to-end, cross-functional initiatives across AI research, robotics engineering, data infrastructure, and plant operations.

In this high-visibility role, you will be embedded with AI researchers, roboticists, data engineers, and AI product managers. You will blend strategic problem framing, technical program management, advanced analytics, and hands-on AI agent workflows to move multi-year platform bets and rapid experiments from concept to factory floor.

You are a relentless operator known for cutting through organizational complexity and translating seamlessly between deep technical details and executive-level business outcomes.

What You Will Own

• End-to-End Ownership: Drive multi-team initiatives (e.g., physical AI capabilities, telemetry pipelines, analytics tooling) from initial framing through execution, measurement, and iteration.
• Roadmaps & Risk Mitigation: Build and maintain program roadmaps, dependency maps, and risk registers; proactively clear organizational blockers across IT, Purchasing, Vendors, Finance, HR, and Manufacturing.
• Operating Rhythms: Establish and lead standups, reviews, and steering forums with AI Research, AI Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Product teams.
• Multi-Threaded Execution: Effortlessly context-switch between fast-turnaround daily deliverables and long-horizon platform programs without losing accuracy or detail.

2. Strategy, Storytelling & Decision Support

• Strategic Framing: Partner with leadership to refine the Robotics AI strategy, including problem selection, sequence of technology bets, and business success metrics.
• Executive Narratives: Craft structured storyboards, memos, and executive-ready presentations for SVP-and-above decision-makers, synthesizing complex trade-offs into actionable choices.
• KPI Definition: Connect technical AI/robotics milestones directly to enterprise manufacturing outcomes, cycle times, and operational metrics.

3. Data, Analytics & AI Tooling

• Hands-on Analytics: Define data logging/telemetry requirements, run custom SQL queries, analyze datasets using Python or R, and translate raw data into actionable insights.
• Dashboarding & Infrastructure: Build and maintain high-impact dashboards (Looker, Power BI) tracking model performance, deployment health, and plant KPIs, using Databricks for underlying reporting.
• AI & Agent Orchestration: Design and deploy GenAI-powered workflows and agents to automate reporting, operational workflows, and repetitive analytical tasks.
• Tool Adoption: Champion and rapidly adopt modern analytics, tracking (Jira), low/no-code platforms (Power Apps, AppSheet), and AI copilots across the organization.

4. Technical & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Technical Interface: Serve as a fluent partner to AI researchers and roboticists — understanding the underlying technical challenges in data collection, labeling, model evaluation, and physical deployment without needing to write production code.
• Product & Vendor Alignment: Collaborate with AI Product Managers to map user needs against factory constraints, and interface directly with external robotics/AI partners and vendors.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Experience: 4+ years of experience across one or more of the following domains:
• Management consulting or corporate strategy
• Technical program management (TPM) or product management
• Data science or advanced data analytics
• Domain Context: Meaningful experience in AI, ML, or robotics (e.g., applied ML, computer vision, robotics AI, or intelligent automation).
• Technical Analytics Skills: Hands-on proficiency with SQL, Python or R, and enterprise dashboarding tools (Looker or Power BI) on modern data platforms (Databricks).
• GenAI & Tooling Fluency: Practical experience using GenAI tools/copilots in daily workflows and designing/orchestrating AI-assisted workflows or agents. Experience with Jira and low/no-code application builders.
• Program Leadership: Proven track record of leading large, ambiguous, cross-functional programs with parallel technical workstreams.
• Executive Presence & Storytelling: Ability to modulate communication styles — diving into granular technical discussions with engineers and synthesizing big-picture strategy for senior executives.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Background in physical AI, robotics, or computer vision deployed in manufacturing, industrial, or logistics environments.
• Experience navigating the bridge between AI research and production systems.
• Track record of instrumenting reliability, coverage, throughput, and performance metrics for AI/robotics platforms.
• Hands-on experience navigating complex enterprise processes (security, procurement, vendor onboarding) to maintain technical momentum.

Who You Are

• The Strategic Operator: You can elevate discussion to 30,000 feet for executive alignment, then drop into SQL queries or data pipelines to solve an operational blocker.
• The Storyteller: You naturally structure complex technical progress into concise, impactful narratives that drive decision-making.
• The Hustler: You are known as a high-energy builder who creates clarity out of ambiguity and gets things done across organizational boundaries.
• The Continuous Learner: You are obsessed with testing new AI tools, agent frameworks, and low-code platforms, actively helping your team adopt what works.