Technical Program Manager (m/f/d)

Stellenbeschreibung:

As Technical Program Manager , you will own the end-to-end development program for our robotics platform(s), from concept through production readiness. You will work directly with founders, engineering leadership, and product leadership to drive delivery across AI, software, hardware, and robotics systems through a structured stage-gated product development process.

We are building a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to perform physical labour across a large range of environments. The engineering challenge is enormous and spans AI, software, mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, all converging into a single integrated product that needs to work reliably in the real world.

Key responsibilities

Product Development Process & Gate Ownership: Own the NPI stage-gate development process (Eg. APQP/VDA or EVT/DVT/PVT, adapted to our context). Define gate criteria and build-readiness milestones, lead design reviews (PDR, CDR, ID/CMF), manage prototype build stages (A/B/C-sample or EVT/DVT/PVT) with defined quantities, test scope, and pass/fail criteria, and drive go/no-go decisions with leadership.
Cross-Functional Program Leadership: Act as the connective tissue between AI, software, controls, hardware, and industrial design teams. Maintain a holistic view of the system, from architecture down to integration points, ensuring that parallel workstreams converge into coherent, production-ready solutions.
Risk, Safety & Compliance: Identify technical, operational, and resource risks early. For safety-critical systems, drive structured hazard analysis and maintain the project risk register. Track regulatory certification (CE, FCC, Machinery Directive, relevant ISO standards) as critical path items and ensure compliance documentation is gate-ready.
Supply Chain & Production Readiness: Coordinate with suppliers and contract manufacturers on development timelines, DFM/DFA reviews, tooling stages (T0→T1→T2), and component qualification. Own the verification and validation plan spanning reliability, environmental, safety, and EMC testing. Manage the NPI-to-production transition including pilot runs, yield optimization, and ramp monitoring.
Cost, Change & Configuration Control: Own the project budget and BOM cost tracking. Drive target costing and cost-down initiatives. Enforce engineering change processes (ECO/ECN) and maintain configuration baselines across hardware, software, and firmware revisions.
Communication & Delivery Excellence: Provide clear, high-signal updates to leadership. Facilitate technical discussions, align priorities, and design scalable delivery processes that balance rigor with the agility required in an early-stage company.

Your profile

Experience: 7+ years in Technical Program Management, Engineering Program Management, or equivalent roles. Proven track record delivering complex physical products through a full NPI type cycle, from concept to production, within robotics, consumer electronics, automotive, or deep-tech environments. You have shipped hardware, not just software.
NPI & Stage-Gate Fluency: Hands-on experience running a gated product development process, APQP/VDA from automotive or EVT/DVT/PVT from consumer electronics/robotics. Comfortable with BOM management, requirements traceability, and engineering change processes.
Technical Depth: Strong understanding of systems engineering principles across mechanical, electrical, and software domains. You don't need to code daily, but you must engage deeply with engineers on architecture, trade-offs, and technical constraints.
Supply Chain & Manufacturing: Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, or internal manufacturing on DFM/DFA, tooling, and production ramp. You understand what it takes to get from a working prototype to a reliable production unit.
Mindset: Decisive, structured, and execution-driven. You thrive in ambiguity, take ownership, and bring clarity where none exists. You understand that building physical systems requires discipline, trust, and accountability.
Credentials: Degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field. PMP, PRINCE2, or IPMA certification is a plus. Fluent English required, German is a plus.