Robotics AI Strategy and Program Lead

Aquent is partnering with a leading innovator in the manufacturing sector, a company at the forefront of developing groundbreaking physical AI systems. This organization is building one of the most ambitious AI and robotics programs globally, aiming to autonomously manipulate thousands of parts across a vast plant network. They are not just researching; they are deploying real, cutting-edge technology into physical factories at an enterprise scale, transforming the future of manufacturing.

Step into a pivotal role where your expertise will shape the future of intelligent automation. You will be instrumental in translating groundbreaking technical visions into tangible factory floor realities, driving efficiency, innovation, and operational excellence across a global network. This is a high-visibility opportunity to make an immediate and profound impact, operating at the intersection of advanced AI research, robotics engineering, data infrastructure, and global manufacturing operations. Your relentless drive and ability to navigate organizational complexity will be key as you seamlessly translate deep technical details into executive-level business outcomes, directly influencing enterprise manufacturing cycles and operational metrics.

What You Will Deliver

Program & Project Leadership

• Drive multi-team initiatives, including the development of physical AI capabilities, telemetry pipelines, and analytics tooling, from initial framing through execution, measurement, and iteration.
• Build and maintain comprehensive program roadmaps, dependency maps, and risk registers, proactively clearing organizational blockers across various departments.
• Establish and lead critical operating rhythms, including standups, reviews, and steering forums, engaging with AI Research, AI Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Product teams.
• Effortlessly context-switch between fast-turnaround daily deliverables and long-horizon platform programs, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Strategy, Storytelling & Decision Support

• Partner with leadership to refine the Robotics AI strategy, including problem selection, the sequence of technology bets, and the definition of business success metrics.
• Craft structured storyboards, memos, and executive-ready presentations for senior decision-makers, synthesizing complex trade-offs into actionable choices.
• Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), directly connecting technical AI/robotics milestones to enterprise manufacturing outcomes, cycle times, and operational metrics.

Data, Analytics & AI Tooling

• Define data logging and telemetry requirements, run custom SQL queries, analyze datasets using Python or R, and translate raw data into actionable insights.
• Build and maintain high-impact dashboards using tools like Looker or Power BI to track model performance, deployment health, and plant KPIs, leveraging Databricks for underlying reporting.
• Design and deploy GenAI-powered workflows and agents to automate reporting, operational workflows, and repetitive analytical tasks.
• Champion and rapidly adopt modern analytics, tracking (Jira), low/no-code platforms (Power Apps, AppSheet), and AI copilots across the organization.

Technical & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a fluent partner to AI researchers and roboticists, understanding the underlying technical challenges in data collection, labeling, model evaluation, and physical deployment, without needing to write production code.
• Collaborate with AI Product Managers to map user needs against factory constraints, and interface directly with external robotics/AI partners and vendors.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• 4+ years of experience across one or more of the following domains:
  
  
  
  • Management consulting or corporate strategy
  • Technical program management (TPM) or product management
  • Data science or advanced data analytics
  
  
  
  
• Meaningful experience in AI, ML, or robotics (e.g., applied ML, computer vision, robotics AI, or intelligent automation).
• Hands-on proficiency with SQL, Python or R, and enterprise dashboarding tools (Looker or Power BI) on modern data platforms (Databricks).
• Practical experience using GenAI tools/copilots in daily workflows and designing/orchestrating AI-assisted workflows or agents. Experience with Jira and low/no-code application builders such as Power Apps or AppSheet.
• Proven track record of leading large, ambiguous, cross-functional programs with parallel technical workstreams.
• Ability to modulate communication styles - diving into granular technical discussions with engineers and synthesizing big-picture strategy for senior executives.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Background in physical AI, robotics, or computer vision deployed in manufacturing, industrial, or logistics environments.
• Experience navigating the bridge between AI research and production systems.
• Track record of instrumenting reliability, coverage, throughput, and performance metrics for AI/robotics platforms.
• Hands-on experience navigating complex enterprise processes (security, procurement, vendor onboarding) to maintain technical momentum.