Product Manager, Perception and Navigation

About the role

Apptronik builds humanoid robots designed to assist humans across various environments, including manufacturing and logistics. This role focuses on guiding the development of perception and navigation systems for the Apollo robot to ensure it functions reliably in real-world settings. You will own the end-to-end strategy and execution for the perception and navigation stack, aligning technical delivery with customer needs and business objectives. The position requires deep collaboration with hardware, software, and safety teams to integrate complex sensor suites into a cohesive autonomous system. You will be responsible for turning ambiguous real-world problems into clear product requirements and technical specifications. Success in this role depends on your ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a sharp focus on reliability and safety. You will play a critical role in defining what the robot sees, understands, and does in dynamic environments. This is a hands-on leadership position where your decisions directly shape the capabilities of Apptronik's flagship Apollo robot.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Establish and manage the software roadmap for perception and navigation, including mapping, localization, object detection, tracking, and collision avoidance.
• Translate high-level sensor data requirements into detailed functional specifications for both autonomy and model integration layers.
• Design and implement performance benchmarks and testing protocols for software releases, defining strict latency targets and quantifiable accuracy standards.
• Oversee the entire data pipeline, encompassing labeling workflows, data collection strategies, and mechanisms for incorporating field feedback.
• Conduct rigorous safety risk assessments, identify failure modes, and validate that perception systems meet defined coverage and robustness criteria.
• Partner closely with the sensing and compute teams to optimize software performance while respecting strict hardware constraints and thermal budgets.
• Prioritize product features by synthesizing input from customer needs, strategic business goals, and detailed technical feasibility analysis.
• Convert complex technical insights into precise documentation and requirements that engineering teams can act upon without ambiguity.
• Support marketing and partnership initiatives by articulating product capabilities and generating compelling narratives around adoption and growth.
• Define and maintain the product vision for perception and navigation, ensuring alignment with the broader Apollo platform strategy.
• Evaluate emerging methodologies and tools to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of perception workflows.
• Drive the creation of internal tools that streamline data management, evaluation, and cross-team coordination.
• Represent the perception and navigation product line in cross-functional discussions, ensuring trade-offs are transparent and well-justified.
• Champion a culture of safety and evidence-based decision-making throughout the product development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bring a minimum of 7 years of cumulative product management experience, with a demonstrated track record of delivering complex software products.
• Possess a background in autonomous vehicles or robotics, with a clear understanding of the unique challenges of operating in unstructured environments.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in core perception and navigation fundamentals, including mapping, localization, and obstacle avoidance techniques.
• Show a proven ability to design robust evaluation frameworks and analyze field-test data to drive iterative improvements in autonomy.
• Have direct experience transitioning software capabilities from controlled laboratory settings to messy and unpredictable real-world deployments.
• Maintain a practical understanding of relevant safety standards, failure modes, and risk management practices applicable to robotic systems.
• Exhibit the capacity to make rapid, high-quality decisions in environments characterized by ambiguity and incomplete information.
• Communicate effectively with strong verbal and written skills, able to distill technical complexity for diverse audiences.
• Be physically capable of lifting 15 pounds and sustaining work at a desk for extended periods without impairment.
• Hold the legal right to work in the United States without sponsorship, as this is a direct hire role.
• Thrive in a fast-paced setting where adaptability and continuous learning are essential for success.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineering, research, operations, and customer-facing groups.
• Apply analytical rigor to problem-solving, leveraging data to inform hypotheses and validate outcomes.
• Commit to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and ethical conduct in all interactions.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience using synthetic or simulation-based data for perception tasks, including scenario generation and virtual testing.
• Familiarity with data collection operations, including oversight of teleoperation fleets and the management of annotation pipelines.
• Prior engagement with industrial customers operating in heavy-duty or light-duty environments, understanding their specific workflow requirements.
• Working knowledge of robotics and functional safety standards such as ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066, ISO 13482, and RIA 15.08.
• Experience interfacing with regulatory or compliance frameworks relevant to autonomous systems in commercial settings.
• Exposure to edge-case scenario handling and strategies for graceful degradation in critical situations.
• Background in academic research or open-source contributions related to perception, navigation, or simultaneous localization and mapping.

Practical notes

• This is a direct hire position extended to candidates authorized to work in the United States.
• No outside agency or recruiter solicitations will be considered for this role.
• Apptronik is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applicants from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• The selected candidate will be based in Austin, Texas, and is expected to work onsite with the Apptronik team.
• Travel may be required to support customer deployments, field testing, or industry events as determined by business needs.
• Applicants should be prepared to discuss their experience with perception and navigation systems in detail during the interview process.
• The successful candidate must meet all physical requirements associated with the role, including the ability to lift specified weights.
• This role demands a high degree of ownership, and the product manager will be evaluated on the impact of their decisions over time.
• Candidates should approach this opportunity with intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage deeply with hardware and software integration challenges.
• The position involves significant interaction with technical stakeholders, requiring comfort in both strategic planning and detailed implementation discussions.
• Professional growth will be supported through exposure to cutting-edge problems in robotics autonomy and human-centered design.