Senior/Staff Technical Program Manager - Hardware

At Rhoda AI, we’re building the next generation of generalist intelligent robots. We own the full robotics stack from high-performance hardware and robot systems to the infrastructure and state-of-the-art foundation world models that control our robots. Our robots are designed to be generalists capable of operating in complex, real-world environments and handling long-tail edge cases, made possible by our cutting edge research and end-to-end system design. We've raised over $450M and are investing aggressively in model research, infrastructure, hardware development, and manufacturing scale-up to make generalist robotics a reality.

As Senior/Staff TPM for Hardware, you own the cross-functional execution of our robot hardware programs, from system integration through EVT/DVT validation, low-volume builds, and early customer deployment. You sit at the intersection of mechanical, electronics, firmware, controls, AI, and manufacturing, driving each hardware generation from integration to build-ready and scaling toward the next.

This is a deeply technical leadership role. You are expected to engage substantively with mechanical, electronics, firmware, and controls engineers, understand design tradeoffs, surface risk early, and hold the program to a high bar of engineering quality, decision velocity, and schedule integrity.

Responsibilities:

Program Execution

• Own the hardware integrated master schedule (IMS) and drive EVT to DVT gate readiness.

• Coordinate system integration milestones and ensure alignment between hardware freeze dates and AI/controls needs.

• Track long-lead items and tooling readiness across all subsystems.

Hardware Integration

• Align actuator development and coordinate torque sensor validation and calibration plans.

• Ensure EtherCAT network readiness and manage compute integration (edge inference platform).

• Align camera and sensor selection and validation; track safety architecture validation (ISO 13849, IEC 61508 considerations).

Manufacturing & NPI

• Coordinate DFM workshops with shortlisted contract manufacturers.

• Manage EVT/DVT builds with a low-volume NPI partner and drive ECO cadence.

• Track tooling, fixtures, and test infrastructure readiness; ensure supply chain risk mitigation and dual sourcing where applicable.

Risk & Decision Velocity

• Maintain an active risk register (RPN-based prioritization) and escalate critical blockers with low decision latency.

• Structure cross-functional resolution sessions and drive root-cause closure with clear accountability.

Cross-Functional Ownership

• Run weekly cross-functional execution reviews across mechanical, electronics, firmware, controls, and supply chain.

• Define clear entry/exit criteria for EVT and DVT.

• Coordinate test infrastructure needs (actuator rigs, dyno requirements, endurance testing).

• Align certification workstreams (CE, UL, and regional requirements) for target deployment markets.

• Drive readiness for low-volume build targets.

What You'll Bring:
Required:

• 8+ years of experience in hardware program management in robotics, EV, aerospace, or complex electromechanical systems.

• Demonstrated ownership of EVT/DVT/PVT cycles.

• Strong understanding of actuator architectures, embedded systems integration, safety-rated motion control, and multi-axis robotic systems.

• Experience managing contract manufacturers through NPI and low-volume ramp.

• Proven ability to operate in low-structure startup environments.

• Ability to synthesize technical risk into executive-level clarity.

Nice to Have

• Experience with humanoid or high-DoF robotic systems.

• Familiarity with EtherCAT-based distributed architectures.

• Familiarity with SIL2/SIL3 functional safety concepts.

• Experience with real-time systems.

• Experience scaling hardware from prototype to mid-volume production.

Why This Role:

• Own the execution of Rhoda's robot hardware from EVT through DVT and into early customer deployment: a rare opportunity to shape how a new robotics platform gets built.

• Direct access to executive leadership and a clear path to program leadership as the hardware roadmap scales.

• Be the connective tissue across every discipline building the robot: hardware, firmware, controls, AI, and manufacturing.