Scope

Physical AI is the layer where a model meets a sensor and an actuator. The role owns that technical program under the CTO or the VP of Robotics. It is narrower than running the whole robotics company, and deeper than a general AI platform job.

Required experience

Has worked on perception, planning, or control that left the lab. Has dealt with bad field data. Can talk to a robotics lead and a research lead without translating everything into slides.

Interview focus

Ask what broke when the system left the test floor, how they collected data after deployment, and which model they stopped trusting.

Sample job description

Report to the CTO. Lead the team that ties models to machines. Set the evaluation for perception and control in the field. Feed what the fleet learns back into the next model.