Technical Program Manager, Robotics Data Acquisition
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for technical program managers in AI and robotics has surged, with a 25% increase in job postings in the last year. As companies like Openai push the boundaries of general-purpose artificial intelligence, skilled professionals are needed to oversee complex projects. With the global robotics market expected to reach
Job Description
About the Role
The Technical Program Manager for Robotics Data Acquisition at Openai plays a critical role in unlocking general-purpose robotics and advancing toward AGI-level intelligence. This involves leading the development and scaling of robotic data acquisition systems across development and evaluation environments. The position requires a deep understanding of robotics engineering, operations, and infrastructure to ensure that data acquisition stations and associated workflows reliably produce high-quality data for model training and evaluation.As part of the Robotics team, the Technical Program Manager will work closely with cross-functional teams, including robotics hardware, software, infrastructure, and operations. The goal is to deliver tightly integrated, deployment-ready data collection systems that meet the evolving needs of the research and engineering teams. This role sits at the forefront of blending high-level AI capabilities with the physical constraints of real-world systems, aiming to improve people's lives through seamless integration of technology and innovation.
What You Will Do
- Own the roadmap, execution, and scaling of robotic data acquisition systems, ensuring alignment with research, engineering, and operational priorities.
- Drive cross-functional integration across robotics hardware, software, infrastructure, and operations teams to deliver cohesive, production-ready systems.
- Operationalize data collection systems by translating experimental and research workflows into repeatable, scalable processes with clear SLAs, metrics, and reliability targets.
- Ensure system readiness and deployment by integrating DAQ stations (robots, sensors, compute, operator interfaces) and validating them for production use across multiple sites.
- Build and manage detailed program plans, identifying risks early and driving mitigation across technical and operational domains.
- Model and plan DAQ capacity (stations, operators, uptime) to meet evolving data demands, balancing speed, cost, and quality.
- Partner with engineering and data teams to define and enforce data quality standards, ensuring consistency and usability for downstream model training.
- Drive continuous improvements in system reliability, utilization, and efficiency through instrumentation, feedback loops, and process optimization.
- Lead the development of clear documentation and training materials for DAQ systems and processes.
- Collaborate with the research team to understand data requirements and develop strategies to meet those needs.
What We Are Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in technical program management, systems engineering, or operations in hardware, robotics, or infrastructure-heavy environments.
- Strong systems-level thinking across hardware, software, and operational workflows.
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs with high ambiguity.
- Experience scaling physical systems (labs, factories, robotics fleets, or test infrastructure).
- Comfortable working close to hardware and debugging real-world system issues.
- Strong analytical skills; able to model capacity, throughput, and system performance.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to align diverse stakeholders.
- Experience with Excel and other project management tools.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Nice to Have
- Experience in AI or robotics.
- Knowledge of data acquisition systems and processes.
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
- Experience with cloud-based infrastructure and services.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive compensation package.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development in a cutting-edge field.
- Flexible working hours and remote work options.
- Access to the latest technologies and tools.
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
- Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package.
- Generous PTO and holiday policy.
- Annual budget for conferences and professional development.
How to Stand Out
- To stand out, highlight your experience in technical program management and your ability to lead cross-functional teams.
- Showcase your understanding of systems thinking and operational rigor through specific examples from your past roles.
- Be prepared to discuss how you handle ambiguity and uncertainty in complex programs.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of data acquisition systems and processes, and how you can apply this to the role.
- Consider creating a portfolio that showcases your achievements in technical program management, especially in robotics or AI.
- Practice your problem-solving skills, as you will be asked to demonstrate how you approach complex problems.
- Be ready to negotiate your salary based on your experience and the market rate for similar positions.
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