Technical Program Manager, R&D & Technology Transfer

Role

As a Technical Program Manager (TPM) focused on R&D, you will serve as the operational backbone for our technology transfer initiatives (e.g., enabling the delivery of AI models, automation technology, and robotic solutions). You will collaborate with world-class researchers, scientists, roboticists, and machine-learning experts working on ambitious efforts to redefine industrial robotics - always with customers and launchable product features in mind. While R&D leadership drives the strategic roadmap, you are responsible for the execution mechanics that turn those concepts into delivered reality. 

You will enable and coordinate R&D initiatives, especially facilitating the transition of innovative technology from research prototypes into scalable products. This involves aligning research milestones with product feasibility and managing the critical product transfer phase to ensure research outputs are usable by businesses at scale. You will work closely with researchers, engineers, product managers, and the leadership team to maintain an up-to-date overview of delivery status and technical risks, while evolving shared standards that enable Intrinsic to deliver at scale.

As part of the overall TPM team, you will collaborate closely with your peers to share learnings and drive operational excellence across departments.

This role will require domestic and regular international travel to visit partners and customers.

How your work moves the mission forward

• Collaborate with R&D leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to transfer novel, cutting edge technology into automation and robotic solutions enabling our customers and partners. 
• Drive alignment on scope, timelines and critical dependencies required to move technology from a research prototype to a product-ready asset, while maintaining a healthy balance across feasibility, quality, and risk on the critical path. 
• Act as the central hub for tracking the status and health of major R&D initiatives to ensure a unified view across key cross-functional stakeholders, like Product Managers and Tech Leads, and to proactively prompt action where needed.
• Establish a lightweight yet scalable operational foundation to ensure research outputs are transferred smoothly on time and meeting product requirements, without compromising innovation velocity through excessive overhead.
• Motivate by creating clarity, especially when driving change.

Skills you will need to be successful

• Experienced in applying best practice technical program/project management approaches and comfortable adapting and leveraging these in ambiguous settings with shifting priorities (project scoping/planning, risk analysis, timeline estimation, status tracking). 
• Experienced in research, innovation, technology transfer, and product development.
• Technical expertise in AI, robotics, automation, and/or industrial manufacturing (e.g., understanding of typical phases and challenges in deploying robotic solutions).
• Concise and clear communicator, especially when working with external partners and customers. 
• Expertise in navigating cultural nuances and building relationships internationally, specifically in Asia.
• Master of Science in Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience to confidently engage in technical discussions and articulate technical concepts, both in familiar and unfamiliar areas. 

Skills that will differentiate your candidacy

• Systems understanding of conventional robotics and automation systems, incl. mechatronic systems engineering and functional safety.
• Familiarity with robotics technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, automated motion planning, reactive sensor control, their potential, limitations and resulting project risks.  
• Strength in facilitating alignment of competing needs and constraints by leveraging critical thinking (e.g., when delivering novel technologies to established industries).
• Experienced in managing collaborative external projects from start to end (incl. scope negotiation, stakeholder management, priority alignment).