Applications Manager

About****[protected info]
[protected info] is one of the fastest growing US startups in the AI space. [protected info] is bringing the cutting edge of AI computer vision to manufacturing - solving inspection problems that were previously not solvable with traditional machine vision. We're a full-stack company: we deploy GPU-powered cameras on production lines, run inference on the edge, and operate a platform that supports large fleets of devices deployed across the world.
We're growing extremely fast. Our customers love the product because it works - high accuracy, fast deployment, and an operator-friendly experience that makes real factory rollouts possible (not just pilots).
Why this role is different
Our demand is exploding in the possible way, and you will help deliver that value to customers and help us grow even more.
You'll lead a team of applications engineers (vision, controls, mechanical) and technicians to deliver end-to-end deployments - from "PO signed" to "system stable in production" to "human inspectors removed." This is the role where execution becomes revenue, and revenue becomes the next wave of growth.
If you've thrived in high-tempo manufacturing environments, you'll recognize the pace - and you'll enjoy the satisfaction of building a world-class deployment engine instead of getting buried by firefighting.
What you'll own
1) Deployment outcomes at scale
Own the delivery of deployments across multiple factories and lines: schedule, staffing, readiness, execution, stabilization.
Drive deployments to the finish line: stable inspections, acceptance criteria met, and clear handoff to customer operations.
Build repeatable playbooks that reduce time-to-production and increase customer self-sufficiency.
2) Team leadership (hire, train, operate)
Lead a high-performance field team: applications engineers + technicians across regions.
Set standards for execution: daily/weekly cadence, escalation paths, documentation, and quality bars.
Coach your team to be fast, calm, and effective under pressure - especially when production is on the line.
3) Customer leadership (scope, expectations, urgency)
Be the on-the-ground leader with customer stakeholders: process, quality, automation, and factory management.
Manage scope ruthlessly but professionally: protect outcomes, prevent scope creep, and keep the project moving.
Drive urgency: align customer resources, line access, sample parts, and decision-making so deployments don't stall.
4) Process and systems building
Participate in the creation the operational infrastructure that makes deployment scale: onboarding + training frameworks, checklists, commissioning templates, project dashboards, post-mortems, and continuous improvement loops
Track what matters: deployment cycle time, blockers, time-to-stability, acceptance rate, expansion readiness.
5) Product feedback that changes the roadmap
Translate field pain into product improvements that make deployments faster and easier: better diagnostics, clearer workflows, installation standards, tooling, documentation, and "self-serve" capabilities
Work closely with global engineering and product to push changes that remove recurring friction.
What success looks like
Deployments become predictable: faster ramp, fewer surprises, clear ownership.
Customers trust [protected info] to scale: more lines, more factories, more expansion.
Your team operates like an elite unit: strong execution, great communication, high morale.
The product gets better because you turned field reality into roadmap wins
Who you are
Required
Proven track record leading complex, multi-site technical deployments in manufacturing environments
Strong program/project management ability: you can run multiple workstreams, prioritize ruthlessly, and keep people aligned
Experience leading teams (hiring, training, performance management, developing strong ICs)
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management (factory floor customer executives global teams)
High ownership, high discipline, high energy; you don't wait to be told, you drive the outcome
Fluent Mandarin, English and Vietnamese (written and spoken) for global coordination and customer exec communication
Ability and willingness to travel to China, Vietnam, and the US (location of the factories)
Strong background in Automation to be able to guide and decide for the hard technical decisions.
Strongly preferred
Experience in high-tempo environments
Familiarity with AI inspection / machine vision / automation deployments
Ability to navigate ambiguity, incomplete info, and shifting constraints without losing momentum
What you'll get
A front-row seat at one of the fastest-growing categories in manufacturing: AI inspection at scale
Massive ownership: your execution directly drives revenue and customer expansion
A high-caliber global team and direct reporting line to the Managing Director, APAC
Career acceleration and one of the fastest growing global startups.