Research Manager

Overview

Research Manager

Samson Rose has been exclusively engaged by a pioneering Robotics & AI company to find a Research Manager who will lead a world-class research team advancing the frontier of robotics & AI. This is a high-impact leadership role where you’ll define research strategy, guide cutting-edge projects, and ensure that scientific breakthroughs translate into robust, real-world robotic systems. You’ll balance technical leadership with people management, shaping the future of embodied intelligence in complex, dynamic environments.

A bit about the company: They are transforming how robots interact with the real world, building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that unlock the full potential of robotic autonomy. Unlike purely data-driven or transformer-only approaches, they are pioneering a new course with already-deployed solutions delivering real-world results. Their models continuously improve through direct field application, setting them apart from research teams working only in simulation.

By joining their team, you’ll collaborate with some of the brightest minds in robotics and AI. The organization thrives on bold thinking, scientific rigor, and the drive to push autonomy beyond today’s limits. This is your opportunity to have direct impact on how robots perform in the wild, not just in the lab.

• PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).

• 8+ years of applied research experience with a strong record of publications, patents, or real-world deployments.

• 4+ years of experience managing research teams, including hiring, mentoring, and professional development.

• Demonstrated success leading multiple complex projects from concept through deployment.

• Strong technical background in robotics AI, machine learning, reinforcement learning, perception, or multi-robot systems.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams.

• Comfort operating in a dynamic, fast-moving, and high-growth environment.

• Define and execute the research roadmap for robotics AI in alignment with company goals and product needs.

• Recruit, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of research scientists and engineers.

• Lead projects end-to-end, from problem definition and algorithm design through simulation, testing, and field deployment.

• Ensure research outputs are robust, scalable, and production-ready.

• Partner closely with product, engineering, and operations teams to integrate research into deployed systems.

• Represent the company externally at top-tier conferences, publications, and collaborations.

• Develop and implement best practices for experiment design, evaluation, and reproducibility.

• Manage resources, budgets, and timelines to deliver impactful results.

• Experience with large-scale field robotics deployments.

• Expertise in embedded AI systems or edge deployment in resource-constrained environments.

• Strong track record of advancing the state of the art in robotics reinforcement learning, manipulation, or perception.

If this role is of interest to you, please apply with your current resume. We’ll follow up to schedule an initial call.