Automated Construction Product Manager – Civil Engineering

About SoftBank Robotics

SoftBank Robotics is a global leader in robotic automation, helping organizations transform operations through intelligent autonomous solutions. We enable businesses to improve productivity, operational efficiency, consistency, safety, and customer experience through the deployment of robotics and AI-driven technologies.

Our solutions support organizations in hospitality, healthcare, commercial real estate, education, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, and retail. With robotic deployments spanning more than 70 countries worldwide, we help customers rethink operations and unlock new levels of performance through automation.

As advances in Artificial Intelligence continue to accelerate the adoption of Physical AI and autonomous systems, SoftBank Robotics remains at the forefront of the next generation of intelligent automation. Our teams work with cutting-edge robotic platforms that combine AI, autonomous navigation, cloud technologies, and advanced sensing systems to solve real-world business challenges.

We are seeking an experienced Automated Construction Product Manager – Civil Engineering to lead the development and business evaluation of automated solutions for civil construction operations.

This is not a traditional construction project management role. This position manages the development of integrated civil construction solutions that combine automated and robotic equipment with the workflows and technologies required to perform work effectively in the field.

The ideal candidate combines a strong Civil Engineering and construction background with product development and business acumen. This individual will translate construction needs into solution requirements, coordinate automation development and integration, evaluate technical and financial viability, and help bring scalable solutions from concept through field validation and deployment.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Automated Solution Development

• Own automated civil construction solutions from concept and requirements definition through development and deployment readiness.
• Translate civil engineering and field needs into clear product, functional, and technical requirements.
• Define product roadmaps, priorities, milestones, dependencies, and success criteria.
• Integrate robotic equipment, automation technologies, software, and construction processes into complete, scalable solutions.
• Identify capability gaps and work with internal teams and external technology partners to develop solutions.

Civil Construction & Systems Integration

• Apply civil engineering expertise to define construction workflows, sequencing, equipment requirements, and operational constraints.
• Support automation of activities such as earthwork, excavation, grading, trenching, utilities, site preparation, and material movement.
• Ensure individual automated systems work together in the proper construction sequence and satisfy real-world field requirements.
• Evaluate autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment against requirements such as production rates, excavation depths, tolerances, equipment capabilities, and site constraints.
• Partner with robotics, engineering, software, equipment, construction, and operations teams to ensure solutions are technically feasible and constructible.

Business Case, ROI & Financial Planning

• Evaluate the financial and operational viability of proposed automation solutions.
• Develop ROI models and business cases comparing automated solutions with conventional construction approaches.
• Create business scenarios incorporating development and equipment costs, labor, productivity, utilization, scalability, and anticipated operational savings.
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analysis to evaluate how changes in key assumptions affect expected returns.
• Participate in business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and investment prioritization for automation initiatives.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Engineering, and leadership to prioritize opportunities based on business value, technical feasibility, scalability, and ROI.

Field Validation & Cross-Functional Delivery

• Establish performance and acceptance criteria and support pilots, field trials, and solution validation.
• Measure technical, operational, productivity, and financial performance and use results to improve solutions and validate ROI assumptions.
• Coordinate internal teams, equipment manufacturers, robotics companies, and technology partners throughout development and testing.
• Communicate product status, business cases, investment requirements, risks, and recommendations to leadership.
• Determine solution readiness for repeatable and scalable field deployment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.
• 7+ years of experience in civil engineering, heavy civil construction, infrastructure, construction technology, automation, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of civil construction means and methods, field operations, and construction sequencing.
• Experience with earthwork, excavation, grading, trenching, utilities, site preparation, and/or material movement.
• Ability to translate construction requirements into technical and operational solution requirements.
• Experience with ROI analysis, financial modeling, cost-benefit analysis, business case development, budgeting, or related financial evaluation.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional technical initiatives.
• Strong analytical, business, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Product management, technical product management, systems engineering, solution development, or technical program management experience.
• Experience with construction automation, robotics, autonomous heavy equipment, industrial automation, or construction technology.
• Experience developing and deploying new technology or integrated equipment solutions.
• Familiarity with autonomous excavators, dozers, graders, loaders, machine control, sensors, telematics, or related technologies.
• Material-handling or automated material-movement experience.
• Experience working with robotics companies, heavy-equipment manufacturers, technology providers, or systems integrators.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is a plus but not required.

Key Competencies

• Civil Engineering & Construction
• Automated Construction & Robotics
• Product & Solution Development
• Construction Workflow & Sequencing
• Systems Integration
• ROI & Financial Modeling
• Business Case Development
• Business Planning & Budgeting
• Field Validation & Performance Analysis
• Cross-Functional Leadership

Ideal Candidate Profile

• The ideal candidate sits at the intersection of civil engineering, construction operations, automation, product development, and business strategy. They understand how civil construction work is performed in the field and can translate those workflows into clear product, technical, and operational requirements for automated equipment, robotics, and supporting technologies.
• They bring strong product and systems thinking, with the ability to look beyond individual pieces of equipment and develop an integrated construction solution that accounts for sequencing, equipment interactions, field constraints, performance requirements, and scalability. Experience with construction automation, robotics, autonomous heavy equipment, construction technology, or material handling is highly desirable.
• Equally important, they can evaluate automation from a technical, operational, and financial perspective developing business cases and ROI models, comparing automated and conventional approaches, and assessing cost, productivity, utilization, labor, and scalability to support investment decisions, business planning, and budgeting.
• This individual is comfortable working cross-functionally across Engineering, Construction, Operations, Finance, Product, and technology partners and can help move an emerging solution from concept and business case through development, field validation, and scalable deployment.