Strategic Project Lead, Robotics

Scale AI, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Scale AI, Inc. is hiring a Senior Strategic Project Lead for Egocentric Data Collection in San Francisco, California. This role will focus on architecting operational roadmaps that drive substantial revenue for the Robotics business unit.

The ideal candidate will manage complex projects, optimize operations, and lead cross-functional teams while navigating the challenges of data collection in physical environments. This position offers competitive compensation between $152,000 and $228,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of elite project/program management experience.
• Experience with robotics systems or autonomous vehicles is preferred.
• Ability to deconstruct complex operational challenges into actionable strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own the mission of high-impact data collection initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional governance with executive stakeholders.
• Manage and mentor global teams in dynamic collection infrastructure.

Skills

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

SQL

Data Visualization Tools (Tableau, Looker)

Job description

Scale’s Robotics business unit is experiencing historic, unprecedented growth. As a Senior Strategic Project Lead (SPL) for Egocentric Data Collection, you will architect and execute the critical operational roadmaps that drive $XXM+ in net-new revenue. This is a high-leverage, executive-facing role. You will wear many hats across operations, engineering strategy, and product, driving the physical data engine that powers the world’s most advanced Embodied AI systems.

The ideal SPL possesses a rare blend of rigorous project management methodology, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a deep comfort with the beautiful chaos of physical-world operations. If you are excited by high-stakes ownership, complex hardware-software paradigms, and accelerated career progression, this role is built for you.

You will:

• Own the Mission: Serve as the end-to-end program business owner for our most visible, high-impact egocentric data collection initiatives, directly steering data quality, operational efficiency, P&L margins, and revenue delivery.
• Bridge the Physical & Digital Worlds: Translate complex customer machine learning requirements into highly structured, scalable physical data collection specifications that directly improve VLM/VLA model performance.
• Establish PMO Rigor: Build, optimize, and scale project timelines, milestone tracking, and critical-path infrastructure. Implement risk-mitigation frameworks to anticipate and bypass real-world operational bottlenecks.
• Lead Cross-Functional Governance: Partner seamlessly with executive stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Finance, and Go-to-Market to align operational execution with the cutting-edge requirements of the world's largest Robotics models.
• Command Global Operations: Functionally lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing matrixed team of Operations Program Managers and Associates, defining task architecture and establishing operational KPIs.
• Deploy Smart Infrastructure: Train and manage dynamic, global teams of collectors, implementing hardware/software troubleshooting protocols for egocentric collection devices (e.g., smart glasses, sensors, rig setups).
• Drive Data-Centric Decisions: Build advanced analytics, tracking dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to inject continuous feedback loops into the operational lifecycle.
• Executive Presence: Deliver high-signal, strategic progress updates and risk assessments directly to Scale’s executive leadership team.

Ideally, you’d have:

• Technical & Strategic Hybrid: A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, combined with a proven track record of driving massive commercial/business outcomes.
• 5+ Years of Elite Project/Program Management: Experience leading complex, multi-faceted project lifecycles, establishing PMO frameworks, and managing cross-functional technical teams (PMP, Agile/Scrum, or equivalent operational experience is a strong plus).
• Physical AI & Robotics Exposure: Prior experience or deep familiarity working alongside robotics systems, autonomous vehicles, computer vision pipelines, or hardware-in-the-loop environments. You understand the unique challenges of capturing data from the physical world.
• First-Principles Problem Solving: Exceptional analytical capability with a knack for deconstructing complex, ambiguous, and unpredictable operational challenges into execution-ready strategies.
• Operational Resilience: An entrepreneurial, founder-level mindset. You are energized by building systems from 0 to 1, navigating physical constraints, and executing with extreme velocity.
• Global Mobility: Readiness to travel internationally (10-20%) to audit, launch, and optimize localized collection infrastructure.

Nice to haves:

• Hands‑on experience with spatial computing, egocentric vision systems, sensor fusion (LiDAR/IMU/Camera), or AI data curation.
• Experience managing distributed global operations across multiple time zones.
• Background in high‑growth startups or elite technology consulting firms.
• Proficiency in SQL and data visualization tools (Tableau, Looker, etc.) to independently audit program health.

$152,000 — $228,000 USD

Please reference the job posting’s subtitle for where this position will be located.

We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information.

We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision.

We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.