Robotics Hardware Production Lead (NPI & Fleet)

Zeitview (formerly DroneBase); Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Stock options

Medical insurance (HSA)

Dental & Vision

Unlimited PTO

Autonomy

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Zeitview is seeking a Hardware Production Program Manager to own end-to-end production planning and lifecycle for aerial sensors and drone payloads. You will bridge hardware design with operations, drive NPI and repeat builds, and sustain engineering support for the existing fleet.

You will manage schedules, procurement, and cross-team coordination in a fast-paced robotics environment. The role requires 5+ years in hardware-related roles, strong program leadership, and the ability to travel up

Qualifications

• 5+ years in engineering, product development, hardware program management, or hardware manufacturing.
• Experience leading hardware programs to completion through influence rather than direct authority.
• Deep understanding of electro-mechanical assemblies, aerial sensors, and payload integration.
• Ability to ruthlessly prioritize competing demands, manage tight timelines with many moving parts, and creatively fill operational gaps.
• Process-driven with track record of tools, SOPs, or processes to improve build efficiency.
• Excellent, concise communication for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% and work with distributed teams.
• Experience leveraging AI to solve operational challenges.

Responsibilities

• Own the hardware build ecosystem: NPIs and repeat builds; manage timelines, staffing, tooling, and docs.
• Balance the fleet with Operations; coordinate builds, repairs, and fleet movements.
• Procurement ownership: manage pipelines and BOMs; procure components.
• Production leadership: hire and develop staffing; work with external vendors when reasonable.
• Schedule and risk ownership: maintain build status and escalate risks.
• Act as the technical conduit across engineering and operations to speed debugging.
• Coordinate field troubleshooting and ensure root-cause resolutions are documented.
• Scale processes for part tracking, unit history, and issue tracking.
• Track hardware fleet performance and implement field solutions to reduce costs.
• Anticipate blockers and deploy agile engineering solutions to stay on schedule.

Skills

Program leadership

Technical breadth

Execution & agility

Process-driven mindset

Communication

Ability to travel

AI proficiency

Tools

PLM experience

ERP systems

Manufacturing testers

Contract manufacturers

Job description

Zeitview is seeking a Hardware Production Program Manager to own end-to-end production planning and lifecycle for aerial sensors and drone payloads. You will bridge hardware design with operations, drive NPI and repeat builds, and sustain engineering support for the existing fleet.

You will manage schedules, procurement, and cross-team coordination in a fast-paced robotics environment. The role requires 5+ years in hardware-related roles, strong program leadership, and the ability to travel up