Technical Program Manager, Large Behavior Models

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team in Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavioral Models, and Robotics.

The Mission

Make general-purpose robots a reality via large-scale embodied AI.

The Challenge

We envision a future where robots assist with household chores and cooking, aid the elderly in maintaining their independence, and enable people to spend more time on the activities they enjoy most. To achieve this, robots need to be able to operate reliably in messy, unstructured environments. Our mission is to answer the question “What will it take to create truly general-purpose robots that can accomplish a wide variety of tasks in settings like human homes with minimal human supervision?”. To answer this, we are gathering large datasets of physical interaction from a variety of sources (including robots and people) and training large generative foundation models on this physical interaction data along with language, video, audio, and other rich modalities. 

The Team

Our goal is to revolutionize the field of robotic manipulation, enabling long-horizon dexterous behaviors to be efficiently taught, learned, and improved over time in diverse, real world environments.

Our team has deep cross-functional expertise across simulation, perception, controls, language, vision, multimodal learning, and generative modeling. Success is measured by the advancement of robot capabilities and we’re strong believers in open research. Our north star is fundamental technological advancement in building robots that can flexibly perform a wide variety of tasks in diverse environments with minimal human supervision. Come join us and let’s make general-purpose robots a reality!

We operate a fleet of robots, and robot-embodied teaching and deployment are key parts of our strategy. Some of our previous work is highlighted here.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a driven Technical Program Manager comfortable working with cross-functional technical teams. Experience with robots or other embodied systems (such as autonomous vehicles) is a bonus. You will play a pivotal role in aligning strategy, driving execution, and ensuring that technical milestones are met. You will collaborate with a team of researchers and engineers to develop resilient, scalable, and impactful systems. This role requires technical leadership and strategic thinking.

If our mission of revolutionizing robotics through machine learning resonates with you, get in touch and let’s talk about how we can create the next generation of AI-powered capable robots together!

• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, and roadmaps for LBM-related initiatives.
• Ensure alignment of goals, priorities, and deliverables across teams.
• Partner with engineers and researchers to define milestones, manage dependencies, and resolve technical bottlenecks.
• Facilitate communication across technical sub-teams and stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement in team workflows, ensuring efficiency and adaptability.
• Introduce tools and frameworks to enhance project tracking and reporting.
• Collaborate with leadership to align team efforts with organizational objectives.
• Provide regular updates on project progress, risks, and outcomes.

• 5 years of technical program management or related experience in robotics, AI, or software development.
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Strong understanding of machine learning, robotics, or large-scale model development.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences.
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills under ambiguity.
• Proficiency with project management and developer tools (e.g., Asana, Github, or similar).

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $139,776 and $209,664/year for California-based roles; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Note that TRI offers a generous benefits package (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave) and an annual cash bonus structure. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

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