Senior Technical Program Manager, Robotics Research

As a Senior Technical Program Manager at our Robotics Research team, you can expect to contribute significantly to the success of ambitious research programs. Your responsibilities will include working closely with subject matter experts, aligning projects towards unified goals, preparing detailed technical roadmaps, facilitating effective communication with stakeholders, managing risks, and ensuring cross-functional collaboration. A hands-on approach combined with strong technical skills will be crucial for unblocking challenges within robotics research efforts.

To qualify for the Senior Technical Program Manager position in Robotics Research, candidates should hold a BS or above in Robotics, Computer Science, or have equivalent experience. A minimum of 5 years in robotics, software engineering, and program management is essential, along with proficiency in managing complex projects using tools like Jira. Candidates must also possess a strong understanding of the primary components of a robotics stack, which includes perception, motion planning, controls, and mapping & localization.

The Senior Technical Program Manager supports robotics researchers by providing hands-on assistance and effective project management. You will spend most of your time unblocking research efforts, translating complex technical roadmaps into actionable timelines, and fostering an environment of collaboration and communication. Your technical expertise will help ensure that researchers focus on innovation and problem-solving, while you manage the logistics and project dynamics.

The work environment for the Senior Technical Program Manager in Robotics Research is dynamic and fast-paced, typical of an early-stage startup. This setting offers candidates the opportunity to work through ambiguity and challenges while promoting a culture of collaboration and innovation. You will engage with diverse teams, enhancing your experience while directly impacting the research outcomes and technological advancements in robotics.

While not a strict requirement, a strong understanding of Agile methodologies can greatly enhance the effectiveness of a Senior Technical Program Manager in Robotics Research. Agile practices facilitate flexibility and responsiveness in project management, which is crucial for adapting to the iterative nature of robotics research. Leveraging Agile can help streamline processes, improve communication among teams, and ensure that projects align with evolving goals.

When answering this question, focus on your specific experiences that demonstrate your capability in managing robotics projects, outlining complex scenarios where you facilitated cross-functional collaboration and drove projects to completion. Mention methodologies you've used, such as Agile or Waterfall, and provide examples of successful integration of software and hardware components.

Discuss your approach to risk management by outlining the identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies you employ. Share examples where you proactively recognized potential risks and the steps you took to manage them effectively, highlighting your communication with stakeholders to ensure everyone is aligned on risk responses.

Use this opportunity to demonstrate your flexibility and adaptability. Provide an example of a project that required you to shift your management approach, whether from Agile to Waterfall, or vice versa, detailing how you assessed team needs, project goals, and ultimately led the team through the transition.

In your response, discuss specific projects or experiences that involved software and hardware integration. Detail your role, the technologies involved, and the challenges you faced. Highlight how you facilitated collaboration between teams to ensure successful implementation.

Explain your communication strategies that keep stakeholders informed and engaged. Provide examples of meetings, reports, or tools you used (like Jira) to facilitate transparent discussions about project statuses and accomplishments. Emphasize the importance of clarity and conciseness in your communications.

Here, you should explain your technical background related to robotics, including familiarity with software stacks and the engineering lifecycle. Mention specific areas you are proficient in, such as perception, motion control, and mapping, and how this knowledge enables you to communicate effectively with research teams.

Discuss your strategies for fostering collaboration among team members from diverse backgrounds. Share examples of experiences where you aligned the efforts of researchers and engineers, ensuring that everyone's skills and expertise were utilized towards achieving common goals, while respecting individual contributions.

In your response, provide an example of a conflict that arose within a project team. Detail the steps you took to mediate the situation, including how you communicated with the involved parties and the resolution strategies you employed to bring about a positive outcome.

Discuss the project management tools you have experience with, emphasizing their relevance to the role of a Senior Technical Program Manager. Explain why you prefer specific tools (such as Jira) in terms of their functionality for managing complex projects, enabling collaboration, and tracking progress.

Articulate your passion for robotics research by sharing your motivations and interests in the field. Discuss how you believe robotics can impact society positively and why you want to be an integral part of a team that is at the forefront of technological advancements.