Deployment & Engagement Operations Lead

Physical Intelligence•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Physical Intelligence is developing general-purpose AI for physical-world applications, including foundation models and learning algorithms for robots and other physically actuated devices. This role is part of Research Operations and works across partnerships, research, hardware, and infrastructure. Research owns technical goals, while Research Operations is responsible for the operational work required to deliver them. The Deployment & Engagement Operations Lead owns the scope, resourcing, and execution of external engagements after initial terms are established. The role translates partner commitments into plans, leads complex engagements, coordinates resources and on-site operations, and keeps partners and internal teams aligned. It also builds and leads the team supporting engagements and develops practical playbooks and processes to make future work more repeatable.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in program management, field operations, or technical project management.
Experience running on-site launches or deployments of hardware or complex physical operations.
Technical fluency in machine learning and robotics, including the ability to navigate technical tradeoffs and lead discussions with external partners.
Experience delivering external partner or customer programs.
Experience staffing and managing teams across shifts and locations.
Willingness to travel and work extended on-site stretches.

Nice To Haves

Experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or AI.
Experience opening new sites, markets, or facilities.
Experience turning one-off launches into a repeatable motion.

Responsibilities

Own scope, resourcing, and execution for external engagements once initial terms are set.
Turn partner commitments into clear plans with milestones, owners, and resource needs.
Lead complex engagements involving multiple teams, evolving requirements, and significant operational responsibility.
Build trusted relationships with partner stakeholders and internal leads to work through constraints and keep decisions moving.
Use judgment on scope, timing, and resources; resolve tradeoffs and escalate decisions when needed.
Secure and allocate the robots, people, support, and site time required for each engagement.
Build and lead the team supporting engagements as the work grows.
Oversee on-site operations, including staffing, shifts, travel, and logistics, and step in directly when needed.
Keep partners, researchers, and internal teams aligned on status, risks, and decisions.
Build practical playbooks and processes that make each engagement easier to run.