Director of Robotics Operations

Scale AI’s Robotics team is enabling the future of physical AI by building the most advanced data collection and annotation programs in the industry. We are hiring a Director of Robotics Operations to lead these efforts end-to-end—from onsite lab operations to managing distributed contributor networks and downstream annotation workflows.

This role will manage a cross-functional operations team including site leads, independent data collectors, strategic project leads, engagement managers, and operational program managers. You’ll collaborate closely with Field Engineers (as key technical stakeholders) and cross-functional partners across Engineering, Product, and Go-To-Market.

If you’re an experienced operator who thrives in complexity, excels at building scalable systems, and wants to make a massive impact in a fast-moving space, we want to hear from you.

You will:

• Own and scale the full operations lifecycle for robotics data collection—from onsite physical setups to distributed contractor management and post-processing annotation pipelines.
• Lead a diverse team including Site Operations Leads, Strategic Project Leads, Engagement Managers, and Program Managers.
• Manage large networks of independent contributors across the globe to execute high-volume data collection at scale.
• Build and operationalize high-throughput, high-quality workflows across robotics programs—balancing speed, accuracy, and cost.
• Collaborate closely with Robotics Field Engineers, who are technical stakeholders responsible for hardware deployment and robotics integrations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Go-To-Market, Engineering, and Solutions teams to ensure successful execution of complex, customer-facing projects.
• Define and own key performance indicators (KPIs), including throughput, yield, cost per hour of data, and turnaround times.
• Solve operational bottlenecks and scale infrastructure to support rapid growth in customer demand and robotics deployments.
• Operate with urgency and clarity—driving execution while continuously improving workflows and systems.

You Have:

• 10+ years of experience in operations, logistics, robotics, or related fields, with a proven track record leading large, cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and scale hybrid workforces—both full-time staff and distributed independent contractors.
• Experience building and running on-site physical operations (labs, field sites, or hardware-intensive environments).
• Proven success in high-complexity program execution and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience managing highly technical operational workflows with both hardware and software in the loop.
• Technical fluency and a data-driven mindset; comfort working with SQL or Python is a strong plus.
• Experience operating in international markets, especially LATAM, including field deployments, compliance, and vendor management.
• Strong systems thinking, process design, and problem-solving skills.
• High operational rigor and a drive for continuous improvement.
• A track record of operational output excellence

Nice to Have:

• Experience in robotics, AV testing, or large-scale data annotation programs.
• Familiarity with fleet management, compliance frameworks, or automation workflows.
• Experience optimizing a global workforce with onshore and offshore operations.