Senior Technical Program Manager

Job Description

What we need

We are looking for a Technical Program Manager to join our Bot Team within the Hardware Engineering organization. Your job will be to lead the end-to-end delivery of mobile robotics hardware programs, from concept through design, development, validation, and production. In this role, you will drive alignment across cross-functional engineering and operations teams to ensure complex electromechanical systems are delivered on time, within budget, and to performance expectations.

What we do

The Bot Team is part of our Hardware Engineering organization and is responsible for the development and delivery of Symbotic’s mobile robotic systems. The team works across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing domains to bring complex robotics platforms from early concept through production and deployment. This includes close collaboration with supply chain, contract manufacturers, and internal stakeholders to ensure scalable, reliable, and high-performance hardware solutions.

What you’ll do

• Own program scope, schedule, budget, and risk for one or more robotics hardware initiatives (e.g., mobile bases, manipulators, sensors, power systems).

• Drive cross-functional alignment across mechanical, electrical, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams; lead regular syncs and program reviews.

• Build and maintain integrated program schedules, identify critical path dependencies, and proactively manage risks and mitigation plans.

• Manage prototype builds across modules and full robotic systems, including materials, assembly, and testing coordination.

• Partner with vendors, contract manufacturers, and suppliers to support qualification, build readiness, and production ramp.

• Support and drive key program milestones including design reviews, test readiness reviews, and production readiness reviews.

• Communicate program status, risks, and resource needs clearly to stakeholders and leadership, tailoring messaging for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Travel up to 25%.

What you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in technical program or project management, including at least 3 years focused on hardware development (robotics, electromechanical systems, consumer or industrial devices, aerospace, or automotive).

• Strong understanding of hardware development lifecycles, including requirements, design, prototyping, validation (DVT, EMC, environmental), and production ramp.

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as injection molding, CNC machining, and PCB fabrication/assembly, along with design for manufacturability (DFM) principles.

• Proficiency with program and issue tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Smartsheet) and experience managing BOMs, ECNs/ECOs, and release processes.

• Proven track record of delivering complex hardware programs on time and within budget, including managing scope, trade-offs, and competing priorities.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead meetings, provide clear status updates, and present to senior leadership.

Our environment