Staff Technical Program Manager

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional robotics programs spanning hardware and software. You will set strategy, align executives and engineering leaders, and drive scalable program execution for Apollo and future platforms.

You will mentor TPMs, shape management practices, and partner with engineering, operations, and supply chain to deliver complex systems at scale in a fast-growing robotics company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering or Applied Physics is required.
• 10+ years in program management or engineering management with hardware/software leadership.
• Preferred: experience in robotics and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own program execution end to end; set strategic direction and milestones.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, supply chain, finance and executives to align stakeholders.
• Define long-range strategy, schedules, milestones and scalable execution frameworks.
• Proactively communicate status, risks, and decisions to leadership.
• Mentor TPMs and elevate program management practices across the org.

Skills

System-Level Leadership

Technical Partnership

NPI / Ramp

Cross-Disciplinary Integration

Program Execution

Deployment Readiness

Resource Prioritization

Mentorship & Building

Strategic Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering or Applied Physics

Master's degree in Engineering (preferred)

Tools

N/A

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

We are looking for a seasoned Staff Technical Program Manager to lead complex, cross-functional programs that span multiple product lines and engineering organizations. As a Staff Technical Program Manager, you will set the strategic direction for how programs are planned and executed, drive alignment between executive stakeholders and engineering leadership, and shape the technical and operational frameworks that enable Apptronik to deliver humanoid robots at scale. You will mentor other program managers, influence org-wide priorities, and serve as a trusted partner to engineering leaders in navigating the most ambitious and highest-risk initiatives in the business.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Ownership: Own Program execution end to end. Set strategic direction, identify resource requirements, and be accountable for executing on company goals and roadmap. Challenge assumptions at the org level and foster a results-driven culture.
• Orchestration: Partner directly with engineering leadership to execute solutions and adapt quickly when priorities shift. Coordinate across multiple organizations including engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and executive leadership to keep all stakeholders aligned and informed.
• Planning: Define long-range program strategy and create clear paths to success. Develop schedules, define milestones, and build execution frameworks that scale across multiple programs.
• Communication: Proactively communicate program status, risks, trade-offs, and decisions to executive stakeholders. Clearly articulate requirements, goals, and milestones across teams and up to leadership.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor and develop other TPMs. Define and continuously improve program management practices, frameworks, and tooling that elevate the entire function.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• 10 System-Level Product Development Leadership – Extensive experience leading complete hardware + software product life cycles from concept through deployment and scaled production, across multiple concurrent programs.
• Hands-On Technical Partnership – Deep ability to engage with engineering teams on architectural decisions, interface definition, and complex technical problem-solving — operating as a peer to engineering leadership, not just managing schedules.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) - Demonstrated success transitioning multiple products from prototype to manufacturing, including DFM/DFA considerations and managing through ramp.
• Cross-Disciplinary System Integration – Expert-level experience coordinating mechanical, electrical, firmware, product, software, and AI/ML teams to deliver fully integrated, sophisticated systems.
• Program Execution & Results Orientation – Strong track record of driving measurable outcomes at scale, managing critical path and interdependencies across portfolios, and delivering against company roadmap goals.
• Deployment & Commercialization Readiness – Experience leading system integration and scaling hardware/software platforms into commercial production.
• Influence in Resource-Constrained Environments – Proven ability to align product, engineering, and executive teams, prioritize across competing demands, and execute successfully in fast-paced, limited-resource settings.
• Mentorship & Function Building – Demonstrated experience mentoring TPMs, defining program management standards, and raising the maturity of the program management function.
• Strategic Thinking – Ability to translate company strategy into actionable program plans and influence roadmap decisions through data-driven insight.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering or Applied Physics required
• 10+ years of experience in program management or engineering management, including leading cross-functional teams in both hardware and software, with demonstrated experience operating at a senior or staff level
• Preferred: Experience in robotics
• Preferred: Master's degree in Engineering

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate.
• This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.