Software Program Manager

Owl Labs; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

WFH stipend

Commuter benefits

Flexible work

Holidays

Equity

Job summary

Owl Labs is seeking a Software Program Manager to lead complex software programs from discovery and planning through development, validation, launch, and ongoing support. You’ll work closely with Software Engineering, Firmware, Hardware, QA, Product Management, Operations, and external partners to deliver high-quality products on schedule and within scope.

This role is based in Boston, MA, with hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• Own end-to-end program planning and milestones across software initiatives.
• Align software with hardware, firmware, cloud, and app development including EVT to Launch.
• Coordinate Agile lifecycle with prioritized backlogs.
• Track velocity, capacity, and release readiness.
• Serve as Jira SME configuring projects, epics, components, labels and releases.
• Build Jira dashboards to monitor burndown, velocity, and schedule risk.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end program planning, including scope, schedules, milestones, and dependencies across multiple software initiatives.
• Align software schedules with hardware and cloud development, including key milestones (EVT, DVT, PVT, Alpha, Beta, Code Freeze, Certification, Launch).
• Coordinate Agile lifecycle with sprint planning and backlog refinement; partner with PM and Eng leadership.
• Monitor progress, release readiness, and blockers; communicate status to leadership.
• Facilitate priority alignment when technical or resource conflicts arise.
• Coordinate release validation and certifications; support QA and platform handoffs.

Skills

Agile/Scrum

Planning

Data-driven tracking

Communication

Accountability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Business, or related field

PMP/PMI-ACP/CSM or Jira Administrator certification preferred

Tools

Jira

Structure

Dashboards

Job description

Software Program Manager

Owl Labs is seeking a Software Program Manager to lead complex software programs from early discovery and planning through development, validation, launch, and ongoing support. You’ll work closely with Software Engineering, Firmware, Hardware, Quality Assurance, Product Management, Operations, and external partners to deliver high-quality products on schedule and within scope.

What You’ll Do

• Own end-to-end program planning, including scope, integrated schedules, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables across multiple software development initiatives.
• Align software schedules with hardware, firmware, cloud, and application development, including key milestones such as EVT, DVT, PVT, Alpha, Beta, Code Freeze, Certification, and Launch.
• Coordinate the Agile software development lifecycle, including sprint planning and backlog refinement. Partner with Product Management and Engineering leadership to maintain healthy, prioritized backlogs.
• Track team velocity, capacity, blocked work, and release readiness to maintain a predictable delivery cadence.
• Serve as the Jira subject matter expert, configuring and maintaining project structures, workflows, epics, components, labels, and releases.
• Build Jira dashboards and Structure views to monitor burndown and burnup, velocity, cycle time, release progress, defect trends, and schedule risk.
• Serve as the central point of communication across Software Engineering, QA, Operations, Manufacturing, and third-party partners or labs.
• Facilitate decisions and align priorities when technical, scheduling, or resource conflicts arise.
• Communicate program health, critical blockers, root‑cause assessments, and mitigation options to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Proactively identify dependencies, technical risks, thermal and hardware/software integration issues, and critical path blockers.
• Coordinate release validation, efforts to reduce QA regressions, partner or platform certification submissions, and factory handoffs.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Certifications such as PMP, PMI-ACP, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or Jira Administrator preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of software project or program management experience delivering complex technology products.
• Advanced hands‑on experience configuring and managing Jira and related collaboration tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams and maintaining accountability without direct authority.
• Experience with embedded software, firmware, and connected hardware devices preferred.
• Experience managing hardware/software co‑development, stage‑gate processes, or New Product Introduction (NPI) workflows preferred.
• A technical background in software development or systems engineering preferred.

Skills

• In-depth understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies, Waterfall, or hybrid release frameworks.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, dependencies, and priorities.
• A data‑driven approach to tracking progress, identifying risks, and improving delivery predictability.
• Clear communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to align technical teams, external partners, and leadership.
• Ability to establish accountability, resolve competing priorities, and keep complex programs moving forward.

What We Offer

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Unlimited PTO
• Generous Parental Leave
• Work From Home Stipend
• Commuter Benefit
• Flexible Work
• Paid Holidays
• Equity

This role is based in Boston, MA.

Owl Labs is a hybrid company, we are over 40% remote, and our headquarters is based in Boston, MA.

Salary Range

$130,000—$150,000 USD

Owl Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to our values of embracing inclusivity and creating a culture where everyone feels respected and connected, no matter the location of their work environment. We invite applications from people of all walks of life and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need accommodations due to a disability, please let us know.

Who We Are

Owl Labs is a collaborative tech company, creating an equalized meeting and learning experience for all, wherever participants may be. Powering hybrid teams and remote work is in our DNA. Owl Labs has been a leader when it comes to celebrating and connecting hybrid teams and classrooms -- meaning both in‑office and remote workers, in‑room students and at‑home learning. We’re best known for the Meeting Owl product line, a smart 360 camera, mic, speaker all‑in‑one solution. Sitting in the center of the table, the Meeting Owl uses vision and voice recognition to shift the camera to focus on who’s speaking, giving all participants a feeling as if they’re in the same room. With the continued rise of hybrid teams and remote workers, our products allow for better collaboration and productivity no matter your location.

Our award‑winning product, the Meeting Owl Pro, was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020 and has been recognized by CES Innovation Awards 2020, Red Dot Design Awards 2020, SXSW Innovation Awards 2020. Our team was recognized as an Inc. Best Workplaces 2020 and 2021 and named on the esteemed Inc.’s Editor’s List.