Source description
About the role
Senior Manager – Robotics & Physical AI 📍 Hyderabad, India | Full-time Why this role exists Robotics and Physical AI are moving from demos to the real world. Our students must not just learn robotics; they must build, compete, and win . This role exists to turn ambition into execution . You will lead Robotics & Physical AI programs that produce competition-ready teams , working hardware systems , and real societal-impact projects — not PPTs. If you enjoy shipping under pressure , mentoring builders, and winning international competitions/hackhathons, this role is for you. If you prefer comfort, theory, or slow consensus, it’s not for for you.
What you will own You will be accountable for outcomes , not activities.
- Competition Success (Non-Negotiable) Build and train student teams for national competitions
Ensure the student teams reach finals
Raise the bar for hardware-backed Physical AI solutions
- Student Project Execution Drive 100+ real, execution-focused student projects
Push teams beyond demos into: Sensors → perception → control → action
Identify projects worthy of incubation or further funding
- Labs That Actually Work Ensure Robotics / Physical AI labs across campuses are: Live
Reliable
Actively used
No shelfware. No excuses.
- Builders, Not Participants Convert workshops into: Project teams
Competition submissions
Build a culture of tinkering, iteration, and accountability
- Team Leadership Lead engineers, trainers, and program managers
Set clear expectations, weekly cadence, and quality bars
Step in when things break — and make sure they don’t break again
What kind of person thrives here You are likely a strong fit if you: Ability to build AI-first platforms to manage and support student teams.
Have built or shipped real systems , not just reviewed them
Enjoy deadlines, demos, and visible outcomes
Get energy from working with early-stage builders
Can switch between strategy and hands-on problem solving
Care deeply about quality, ownership, and follow-through
You do not need to be the best coder in the room — but you must know what good looks like and how to get there .
Experience we care about Must-haves 7–12 years of experience in robotics, Physical AI, hardware systems, or deep-tech programs
Experience leading programs or teams , not just tasks
Exposure to hardware–software integration
Comfort operating under unclear, fast-moving conditions
Strong plus Hackathons, competitions, demo days, or high-stakes delivery
Working experience in Robotics/IoT/physical AI startups
Teaching, mentoring, or coaching builders
We care more about recent execution than total years of experience.
What this role is NOT This role is not for you if: You prefer research papers over shipped systems
You want clear instructions before acting
You enjoy managing without owning outcomes
You haven’t built or delivered anything meaningful in the last 1–2 years
What success looks like in 12 months Student teams win or place in national competitions
Labs are buzzing with builders, not locked rooms
Projects have real demos, real failures, and real learning
Your team runs independently, with high standards
You can point to clear, undeniable outcomes
Final note
If reading this made you feel energized , we should talk.
More at Darwinbox