Overview

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Reports to: Chief executive officer (CEO)

Team size: 50-100

Employment type: Fulltime

We are seeking a world-class Robotics Hardware Director to lead the creation of next-generation humanoid robot hardware from first principles.

This role combines the responsibilities of Chief Hardware Architect, Technology Leader, and Engineering Director, driving breakthrough innovations across the complete robotics hardware stack. You will define the future hardware platform of humanoid robots by creating novel architectures, pioneering new technologies, and transforming advanced research into real-world robotic systems — and owning their path from concept through industrialization and reliable mass production.

You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams spanning Mechanical Engineering and Electrical & Electronics Engineering, while fostering a culture of bold innovation, rapid experimentation, and engineering excellence.

International candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Relocation support and global recruitment are available for outstanding talent.

Why join us

You will build humanoid robot hardware from first principles and own it end-to-end — from novel architecture through prototype, industrialization, and mass production into real industrial environments such as EV factories and warehouses. You will create and own core technologies rather than integrate off-the-shelf parts and lead a multidisciplinary team of passionate and capable people, who turn bold hardware ideas into platforms that reliably reach production and the field.

Key Responsibilities

Hardware Vision & Technology Strategy

● Define the long-term hardware vision and technology roadmap for future generations of humanoid robots.

● Drive first-principles engineering to invent new hardware architectures rather than incrementally improving existing designs.

● Identify breakthrough opportunities across the complete hardware stack, including robot structures, actuators, motors, electronics, battery systems, sensing technologies, thermal management, wire harness design, dexterous hands, and advanced materials.

● Continuously evaluate emerging global technologies and translate cutting-edge research into competitive robotic platforms.

● Own the reliable delivery of working robot platforms to internal consumer teams (AI, RL, Controls, Perception) on a predictable, published schedule, treating internal teams as first-class customers of the hardware organization.

Hardware Innovation & Architecture

● Lead the design of revolutionary hardware platforms that significantly advance robot capability, efficiency, dexterity, reliability, and intelligence.

● Challenge conventional engineering approaches and encourage bold technical exploration through rapid prototyping and iterative experimentation.

● Drive system-level architecture decisions balancing performance, weight, energy efficiency, scalability, and future extensibility.

● Design for modularity and mass-production, and for industrial manufacturing use cases such as EV factories and warehouses.

● Ensure designs meet relevant industrial standards (e.g., IEC, ISO, TCVN) for safety, EMC, and reliability.

● Own the transition from R&D to production (NPI), driving design maturity through EVT–DVT–PVT–SOP milestones.

● Own BOM cost, tooling, yield, quality, reliability, and maintainability targets for platforms entering mass production.

● Promote innovation in mechanical architecture, electromechanical systems, electronics, materials, and hardware integration.

Engineering Leadership

● Lead multidisciplinary Mechanical Engineering and Electrical & Electronics Engineering organizations.

● Build a world-class hardware engineering culture centered on technical excellence, creativity, ownership, and continuous innovation.

● Mentor senior technical leaders while establishing high engineering standards, architecture reviews, and technical decision-making processes.

● Foster close collaboration across AI, Controls, Software, Manufacturing, and Product teams to develop integrated robotic systems.

Advanced Research & Technology Exploration

● Stay at the forefront of global advancements in robotics, advanced materials, precision manufacturing, batteries, motors, sensors, electronics, and emerging hardware technologies.

● Build collaborations with universities, research institutes, startups, and technology partners to accelerate innovation.

● Drive proof-of-concept development, technology validation, and feasibility studies for next-generation robotic hardware.

● Encourage patent generation, technical publications, and the creation of proprietary core technologies.

Prototype Development

● Lead the development of multiple new robot platforms from concept through prototype validation.

● Drive rapid design-build-test-learn cycles to accelerate technology maturation.

● Guide engineering trade-offs and system optimization through experimentation, simulation, and iterative hardware refinement.

● Ensure prototype platforms establish the foundation for future commercial products.

● Own hardware characterization for sim-to-real fidelity: accurate actuator/sensor models, measured latency budgets, and unit-to-unit consistency, so that autonomy and RL policies transfer reliably across robots of the same platform.

Qualifications

● Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related disciplines.

● 10+ years of experience developing advanced robotics or complex electromechanical systems, with significant experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations.

● Demonstrated success creating innovative hardware products from concept to functional prototypes.

● Deep understanding of the current technical limitations of existing humanoid robot hardware, with demonstrated ability to translate these insights into breakthrough architectural solutions.

● Deep understanding of the manufacturability and commercialization barriers facing humanoid robot hardware, with a track record of driving hardware from prototype to mass-producible product.

● Deep expertise across robotics hardware platforms, including mechanical systems, actuators, motors, electronics, battery systems, embedded hardware, sensing technologies, thermal engineering, and system integration.

● Strong understanding of advanced materials, emerging manufacturing technologies, precision engineering, and hardware architecture.

● Passion for solving difficult engineering challenges through first-principles thinking and hands-on innovation.

● Proven ability to recruit, inspire, and lead world-class engineering teams in a fast-paced R&D environment.

● Excellent communication and leadership skills in a multicultural and international organization.

● Preference for owning core technologies rather than integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components.

Preferred

● Experience developing humanoid robots or other frontier robotic systems.

● Experience at leading robotics, automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, or advanced technology companies.

● Strong record of patents, breakthrough technologies, or commercially successful hardware innovations.

● Experience building entirely new hardware platforms rather than incremental product evolution.

● Experience scaling innovative hardware products from concept to high-volume manufacturing, transitioning complex systems from prototype to scalable production.

● Strong systems-engineering mindset with the ability to optimize across multidisciplinary trade-offs.

● Willingness to stay hands-on in solving the company's most challenging hardware problems.

● Passion for creating technologies that redefine the future of robotics.

Be Part of the Future with VinRobotics!

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