Principal Technical Program Manager

Who we are

With its A.I.-powered robotic technology platform, Symbotic is changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain. Intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system – reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed and flexibility.

What we need

We are seeking a Principal Technical Program Manager to lead a portfolio of technically complex new product development programs. You will set the operating rhythm for how programs move from concept to production, partnering with leaders across engineering, product, manufacturing, supply chain, services, sales, and finance. You will own program outcomes end to end, shape the planning and governance model the team runs on, mentor program managers, and serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and customers. You will be in a highly visible role and will interact with all departments and levels across the company, including executive management.

What we do

The Technical Program Management Office (PMO) oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of technical projects within the Symbotic engineering organization. The PMO implements the processes, standards, and methodologies for managing engineering projects through the full development lifecycle including engineering design, transitioning and delivery to production, and engineering sustainment. The team ensures alignment with business objectives, manages key technical risks, and coordinates engineering resources to ensure successful project outcomes.

What you'll do

Portfolio Leadership and Operating Model

• Own a portfolio of concurrent strategic programs, setting priorities and making resourcing and trade-off decisions across shared engineering teams.
• Define and evolve the phase-gate, planning, and reporting model for the organization, including the metrics and dashboards leadership uses to see program health and risk.
• Mentor and coach program managers, raising the bar on planning, risk management, and executive communication across the PMO.
• Serve as the primary program voice to senior leadership, presenting status, risks, and recommendations that drive decisions.

Project Leadership

• Work with engineering, product management, sales, and finance to ensure project plans for each initiative are sound and optimized.
• Manage scope, schedule, and budget for a portfolio of strategic engineering projects and initiatives within the Technical Program Management Office (PMO).
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and regularly communicate initiative status to teams, senior management, and customers.
• Represent Symbotic to our customers as the program lead, ensuring clear communication, effective negotiation, and resolution of any roadblocks to success.

Program Integration and Deployment

• Lead integrated planning across engineering development, long-lead procurement, manufacturing partner readiness, site preparation, installation, commissioning, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate contract manufacturers, equipment suppliers, engineering consultants, construction partners, customers, and internal teams to manage interfaces and deployment dependencies.
• Establish and manage readiness, commissioning, acceptance, and operational handoff requirements for complex automation deployments.
• Manage customer and stakeholder expectations through clear communication, alignment, and proactive issue resolution.

Customer and Stakeholder Expectation Management

• Establish and maintain alignment between internal program commitments and customer expectations for scope, schedule, system performance, site readiness, acceptance criteria, and operational transition.
• Translate complex technical issues into clear business impacts, options, risks, and recommendations for executive leadership and customers.
• Lead challenging cross-functional and customer discussions to resolve conflicts among technical, commercial, schedule, and operational priorities.

Project Execution

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to bring new products from concept through implementation, delivery, and support.
• Work closely with engineering managers and leaders and product managers and owners to ensure rapid execution and on time, high quality delivery of complex projects. Interact with and motivate talented engineering teams across multiple locations.
• Manage technical development, integration, and deployment for large-scale automation and robot systems from design to production deployment; manage engineering deliverables across software, mechanical, electrical, industrial, and embedded controls teams.
• Facilitate the resolution of issues, risks, and challenges that surface through the development lifecycle, including new product development, hardware engineering, production deployment, and sustainment.
• Manage cross-functional issue tracking to identify problems and track root cause and corrective action plans; provide issue status across engineering teams and leadership.
• Manage generation of critical project artifacts including Bill of Materials (BoM), Tech Data Package (TDP) releases, Functional Requirements, and Requirements Validation documentation.

Champion Process

• Foster a culture focused on transparency, speed of decision making, and synchronized partnership throughout engineering and product teams.
• Ensure Symbotic's Product Lifecycle Management process is followed, and coach teams in executing the NPD process and best practices.
• Lead lean-focused, continual improvement of standards, processes, and procedures that streamline interactions and communication across teams.

What you'll need

• Minimum of 10 years of related work experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in program management roles.
• BS in Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related discipline. MS in Engineering, Engineering Management, or MBA preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading a portfolio of concurrent programs with shared resources, aggressive schedules, and competing priorities.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or managing program managers or technical teams.
• Track record of building or improving program management processes at the organizational level, such as phase-gate, governance, planning, and reporting.
• Experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership.
• Experience delivering complex electromechanical, robotics, or automation products from new product development through production launch, including readiness at manufacturing partner or customer sites.
• Extensive experience in a central role on a highly integrated electromechanical systems, mechatronics, or robotics product development team.
• Extensive experience leading user-centered innovation programs across multiple disciplines.
• Experience managing large-scale system integration, verification, and test programs for complex electromechanical or automation systems.
• Experience planning and managing hardware and software deliverables across disciplines such as robotic controls, navigation, networking, and vision and perception systems.
• Experience building out project plans and structuring project work within JIRA.
• Working experience partnering with third-party vendors and manufacturers on electromechanical or robotics products through launch and sustainment, including familiarity with Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing standards and practices.
• Willingness to fail quickly and fail often to succeed sooner when exploring solutions.
• Exemplify being the team player. Conflict resolution and influencing skills are keys to success.
• Experience negotiating resources in a matrix environment across multiple workstreams, setting clear priorities when juggling competing critical paths.
• Respect and understanding of other disciplines, including Systems Engineering, Hardware Development, Electronics, Controls, Software, Quality, and Manufacturing.
• Proficient in JIRA and standard planning and reporting tools (MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Visio, or equivalents).

Preferred

• Experience managing construction, facility, infrastructure, or site-readiness dependencies for industrial automation deployments.
• Experience planning commissioning, operational readiness, and customer acceptance activities.
• Experience standing up a new product line or line of business.
• Experience contributing to industry standards development (IEC, ASTM, or similar).
• Lean or Six Sigma training.

Our Environment

• Up to 25% of travel may be required. Employees must have a valid driver's license and the ability to drive and/or fly to client and other customer locations.
• The employee is responsible for owning a credit card and managing expenses personally to be reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis.

#LI-PA2 #LI-Hybrid

About Symbotic

Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, AI-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-gen technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today's complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce the Symbotic platform transforms the flow of goods and the economics of supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com.

We are a community of innovators, collaborators and pioneers who embrace our differences, because we know unique perspectives make us stronger and smarter. Every perspective matters. We depend on the collective voices of our employees, customers and community to help guide us as we build a better place to work – for you and the world. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 

We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or genetic information. 

The base range for this position in the posted location is $149,000.00 - $223,000.00 however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The compensation package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, 401K, PTO and/or other benefits.