Vice President Physical AI

About the Role & Team
IDC is seeking a Vice President (VP), Physical AI to build and lead IDC’s global research on the fastest-moving frontier in technology: AI that perceives, reasons, and acts in the physical world. Physical AI spans robots of every kind (humanoid, industrial, mobile, and service), vehicles, and drones, together with the models, simulation, edge compute, orchestration, security, and services that make them work. This is one of IDC’s most visible analyst roles, and the VP will be the face and the voice of IDC in this category. This is a research leadership role that faces the market. The VP is expected to be out with clients, robotics and AI companies, chipmakers, startups, investors, enterprise buyers, and the press, to build the team’s external reputation, and to make research a direct driver of IDC’s advisory and commercial growth. The VP will define how the market understands Physical AI: what it is, how big it can get, and who is winning. IDC’s view is that Physical AI is a full-stack market, not a robot market. Spend spans devices, edge compute, models, simulation, orchestration, security, and services. To reflect that, IDC is bringing its Physical AI research together as a single, cross-domain coverage area, drawing on its AI, devices, services, infrastructure, and application development research, with dedicated local perspectives including China and Japan. The VP will be the unifying leader of that effort.

What You’ll Do

Physical AI coverage area, aligning analysts across AI, devices, services, infrastructure, and application development, and the China and Japan programs, around one agenda and one narrative
• Set the research agenda and priorities against IDC’s growth plan and the topics that robotics and AI vendors, silicon and platform providers, system integrators, investors, and enterprise buyers care about most, and run a regular cross-program planning rhythm so topics, timing, and event participation are coordinated and never duplicated
• Set and uphold standards for accuracy, rigor, and intellectual integrity, balanced with speed-to-publish and market impact, especially in a market where hype runs ahead of evidence

What You Bring

• 8+ years of experience in the technology industry, in research, strategy and planning, product, engineering leadership, or business roles, with significant experience leading teams
• At least 3 years of experience in robotics, autonomous systems, embodied AI, or closely related fields, such as industrial and logistics robotics, humanoids, autonomous vehicles or drones, robot learning, simulation, or edge AI for physical systems
• A current or recent role in the Physical AI ecosystem is strongly valued. This may include work at a robotics or AI startup, a high-growth Physical AI company, an AI lab, a major technology, automotive, or industrial company’s robotics or autonomy group, or an investor focused on the space. We recognize that the field is young, and we welcome adjacent experience paired with clear evidence of hands-on involvement in Physical AI
• Deep understanding of the full Physical AI stack and value chain, including AI models and learning approaches, simulation and data, compute and semiconductors, sensing and actuation, orchestration and software platforms, cyber-physical safety and security, connectivity and infrastructure, and systems integration and services
• Strong grasp of how Physical AI is adopted in the real world, including the economics, safety, regulatory, and operational factors that determine whether and how fast enterprises move from pilots to fleet-scale deployment

Why This Role Stands Out
At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• 15 vacation days (prorated based on start date)
• 12 company-paid holidays
• 6 paid sick days (prorated based on start date; may vary by state)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date)
• 1 volunteer day
• 401(k) company match (IDC matches 3% on the first 6% of employee contributions)
• Company-paid short-term disability
• Company-paid life insurance
  
• Company-paid parental leave
  

Compensation Transparency

At IDC, we are committed to fair and equitable pay practices. Employees are compensated equitably for their work, aligned with their skills and experience. Salary and incentive structures are determined through a rigorous process that considers experience, education, certifications, role-specific requirements, internal equity, and verified U.S. market data from an independent third-party partner.

The expected total annual compensation, depending on location and experience, is between $143,300 – $191,050, inclusive of base salary and variable compensation.     
If this role relocates to a different country, the salary range will be updated to reflect that country's range, rather than a currency conversion of the original range.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify.

IDC is currently able to employ remote workers in the following states: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Washington D.C. (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), and Wisconsin (WI).

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