Tech Lead — XPENG Robotics Xplore Lab

XPENG; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 244,000 - 413,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Snacks & meals

ML research resources

Collaborative culture

Job summary

XPENG is seeking hands-on Tech Leads to own a research direction in robotics, AI, and intelligent systems, from vision to prototypes and real-world validation. You will lead a small, interdisciplinary team on high-impact robotics research and drive technical roadmaps, experiments, and evaluation standards.

You will work across AI algorithms, simulation, robot systems, and real-world testing, incubating technologies into future robotics capabilities while thriving in a fast-moving environment

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in a relevant robotics, AI, or intelligent-systems domain.
• Strong record in robotics research or engineering.
• Experience leading technical projects or mentoring teams.
• Comfortable working hands-on in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small, interdisciplinary team on high-impact robotics research.
• Define and execute technical roadmaps, experiments, and evaluation standards.
• Drive work across AI algorithms, simulation, robot systems, and real-world testing.
• Incubate promising technologies into future robotics capabilities.

Skills

Robotics leadership

AI research

Mentoring teams

Job description

XPENG is a leading smart technology company at the forefront of innovation, integrating advanced AI and autonomous driving technologies into its vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and robotics. With a strong focus on intelligent mobility, XPENG is dedicated to reshaping the future of transportation through cutting-edge R&D in AI, machine learning, and smart connectivity.

XPENG Robotics Xplore Lab is a frontier research and technology incubation platform advancing new capabilities and opportunities for next-generation robotics. Our exploration includes areas such as physical agents, dexterous manipulation, and whole-body intelligence—without being limited to them.

We’re seeking hands‑on Tech Leads to own a research direction, from technical vision and roadmap to prototypes and real‑world validation.

• Lead a small, interdisciplinary team on high-impact robotics research.
• Define and execute technical roadmaps, experiments, and evaluation standards.
• Drive work across AI algorithms, simulation, robot systems, and real‑world testing.
• Incubate promising technologies into future robotics capabilities.

Job Requirements:

• Deep expertise in a relevant robotics, AI, or intelligent‑systems domain.
• Strong record in robotics research or engineering.
• Experience leading technical projects or mentoring teams.
• Comfortable working hands‑on in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments.

What do we provide:

A fun, supportive and engaging environment

Infrastructures and computational resources to support your ML model development/research.

Opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies with the top talent in the field.

Opportunity to make significant impact on transportation revolution by the means of advancing autonomous driving

Competitive compensation package

Snacks, lunches, dinners, and fun activities

The base salary range for this full‑time position is $244,140-$413,160, in addition to bonus, equity and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status or marital status or any other prescribed category set forth in federal or state regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in XPENG’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A \"disabled veteran\" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

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An \"Armed forces service medal veteran\" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.