ABOUT US:
Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement.
Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building products that will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead.
Skip is a 22-person early-stage start-up that spun out of Google X in 2023. With deep cross-disciplinary expertise and key partnerships (e.g. with Arc’teryx) we are uniquely positioned to launch the first commercially successful wearable robotic device, the MO/GO, develop a platform to launch future Movewear products and transform millions of lives in the coming years.
THE ROLE:
We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual who will explore the peaks and valleys of all problems that may come up while building a new category of consumer product.
You will be the connective tissue across our hardware, firmware, software, and operations teams — the person who keeps a complex, cross-disciplinary program moving without losing the details that matter. You'll own the integrated program plan and milestone cadence that gets the MO/GO into customers' hands.
Some of the specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Own the integrated hardware program plan across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and supply chain — from early prototypes through EVT, DVT, PVT, and ramp to 10,000+ units shipped in the next 18 months
Roadmap our hardware and cross-functional delivery milestones for the next 5 years, including support for multiple products
Drive structured milestone reviews, risk registers, and decision logs so nothing important is left undocumented or unresolved
Partner with hardware engineers to understand subsystem tradeoffs — actuators, sensors, power systems — and translate them into program-level decisions and schedule impacts
Manage the software-hardware interface: coordinate firmware, embedded systems, mobile app, and cloud teams to ensure tight integration across the full stack
Define the processes that let a small team ship a product as complex as a wearable robot without slowing each other down. Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, documentation, and knowledge sharing
Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in data collection, test new builds, and provide product feedback
8+ years of experience in technical program management
4+ years of experience with consumer hardware products
4+ years guiding products through full EVT → DVT → PVT → MP cycles
Fluency across hardware and software disciplines — credible in a room with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software engineers
Experience managing CM relationships, component sourcing risk, and production ramp planning
Ability to relocate to work at the Skip Bay Area office
Sense of humour, tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling
Experience with wearables, exoskeletons, soft robotics, or any product that physically interacts with the human body
Background in regulated product development (FDA, CE) or extensive field reliability programs
Familiarity with embedded firmware development and software-hardware co-development cycles
Experience in start-up environments
Personal motivation to improve human movement
Bring joy to the team, participate in embarrassing team events, tolerate KZ's terrible music choices
This is a full time hybrid position working at the Skip office in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.
Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates’ ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in technical program management
- 4+ years of experience with consumer hardware products
- 4+ years guiding products through EVT -> DVT -> PVT -> MP cycles
- Fluency across hardware and software disciplines
- Experience managing CM relationships and production ramp planning
- Ability to relocate to work at the Skip Bay Area office
What We Do
Design and produce wearable exoskeletons to help people hike and move with joy.
