Shift Lead

Physical Intelligence
San Francisco, CA
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Candidates with manufacturing experience in robotics or AI integration and team leadership skills will find this Senior role emphasizing onsite operations and cross-functional collaboration in San Francisco.

Best fit for

  • Senior leaders with manufacturing experience in robotics or AI integration and team management expertise
    — “3–5 years of experience in tech operations, manufacturing, or related fast-paced physical environments — ideally in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other frontier hardware-AI integration sectors.”
  • Individuals accustomed to managing shift-based teams in high-stakes, dynamic environments
    — “2+ years of proven experience managing, scheduling, and motivating a team of hourly, shift-based workers.”
  • Detail-oriented professionals skilled in operational metrics and real-time problem-solving
    — “Adept at tracking KPIs and using metrics to inform operator performance management and workflow adjustments.”

Things to consider

  • Onsite presence is required for daily floor operations leadership and safety enforcement
    — “Onsite Floor Operations: Provide daily boots-on-the-ground leadership...”
  • Cross-functional communication demands structured feedback translation skills
    — “Clear, direct communicator who can translate operational gaps into structured feedback for technical teams”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with operational dashboards and proprietary software adaptation
    — “Detail-oriented and comfortable using operational dashboards; ability to quickly learn proprietary robotics software interfaces.”
  • Emphasize real-time problem-solving examples in high-pressure production settings
    — “Excellent problem-solving abilities under pressure with a high bias for action...”
  • Showcase safety protocol enforcement and continuous improvement initiatives
    — “Enforce PPE compliance and safe work practices on the floor...”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Ensured smooth data collection
  • Maintained high data quality
  • Resolved operational blockers
Typical background
Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field3-5 years of experience in tech operations

Skills & requirements

Required

Team LeadershipData CollectionQuality AssuranceCross-functional CommunicationSafety Enforcement

Preferred

RoboticsAutonomous VehiclesFrontier Hardware-ai Integration

Stack & domain

STEM FieldOperationsManufacturingRoboticsAutonomous VehiclesFrontier Hardware-ai IntegrationProprietary Robotics Software InterfacesLeadershipTraining And DevelopmentData Collection And QualityCross-functional CommunicationReportingSafetyContinuous ImprovementProblem-solvingAmbiguity And Changing PrioritiesResource ManagementKPI TrackingOperator Performance ManagementWorkflow Adjustments

About the role

Original posting from Physical Intelligence via Ashby

The Team

The Operations team drives the day-to-day execution of robot data collection and production at our San Francisco facility, partnering closely with research, hardware, and software teams to support our mission of bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world.

In This Role You Will

  • Onsite Floor Operations: Provide daily boots-on-the-ground leadership to drive data collection, verify availability of stations, props, and staffing, and ensure production continues smoothly during disruptions or staffing gaps. Lead and coordinate operators by assigning work and adjusting resources in real-time based on priorities and constraints.
  • Team Leadership & People Development: Supervise, train, and develop operators, ensuring adherence to work standards. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback, treat operators fairly and professionally, and act as a liaison by bringing operator concerns to management’s attention.
  • Data Collection and Quality: Own factory throughput and data quality for your team; identify deviations from standard work, take immediate corrective action, and ensure all defects are properly documented and escalated.
  • Cross-Functional Communication & Reporting: Act as the primary on-site point of contact for your team, maintaining a tight feedback loop between research, hardware, software, and floor operations. Proactively communicate status, technical blockers, hardware failures, and process bottlenecks. Maintain highly accurate shift handoff notes.
  • Safety & Continuous Improvement: Enforce PPE compliance and safe work practices on the floor. Proactively identify, help resolve, and report unsafe conditions.

What We Hope You’ll Bring

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, Operations, or similar or equivalent practical experience.
  • 3–5 years of experience in tech operations, manufacturing, or related fast-paced physical environments — ideally in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other frontier hardware-AI integration sectors.
  • 2+ years of proven experience managing, scheduling, and motivating a team of hourly, shift-based workers.
  • Detail-oriented and comfortable using operational dashboards; ability to quickly learn proprietary robotics software interfaces.
  • Clear, direct communicator who can translate operational gaps into structured feedback for technical teams; outstanding collaboration skills in cross-functional environments.
  • Excellent problem-solving abilities under pressure with a high bias for action and a demonstrated history of removing operational blockers in real-time.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and changing priorities; able to manage multiple competing priorities with limited resources.
  • Adept at tracking KPIs and using metrics to inform operator performance management and workflow adjustments.
  • Safety-focused, detail-oriented, and quality-driven.

Bonus Points

  • Experience in robotics or related fields.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Source: Physical Intelligence careers (Ashby)

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