Technical Program Manager, Defense OS

Applied Intuition; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition, Inc. is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead programs adapting our software-defined vehicle platform for shipboard environments, coordinating across vehicle OS, middleware, networking, security, and tooling teams.

You will work with government customers, Navy partners, shipbuilders, and integration vendors to deliver capable software onto ships, ensuring security, compliance, and timely delivery in a fast-paced defense context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of technical program management for complex software or hardware systems.
• Experience delivering embedded or vehicle software programs, preferably in defense.
• Experience with DoD programs and government funding/contracting.
• Technical depth to engage with OS, middleware, networking, and release processes.
• Ability to execute efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management at government/industry level.
• Ability to travel to shipyards, Navy facilities, and customer sites.
• Eligibility for U.S. security clearance (active preferred).

Responsibilities

• Define program milestones, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Develop release plans for software and hardware across teams.
• Translate shipboard requirements into actionable technical work.
• Drive security/compliance evidence into the delivery pipeline (DevSecOps).
• Coordinate integration and test events with Navy and vendors.
• Serve as primary liaison with government and industry customers.
• Align roadmaps across internal/external teams and drive problem solving.

Skills

Program management

Embedded software

DoD experience

Systems engineering

Communication

Leadership

Travel readiness

Security clearance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or CS

Tools

JIRA

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the Role

We are looking for a Technical Program Manager to lead programs that bring our software-defined vehicle platform from automotive into naval warships. You will own the plan for adapting a production-proven vehicle OS, middleware, and tooling stack to shipboard environments, working across Applied engineering teams, Navy program offices, shipbuilders, and integration partners. This role sits at the intersection of fast-moving commercial software and complex defense acquisition, and it calls for someone who can bring modern software delivery practices into programs that have historically moved slowly. You will work closely with subject matter experts at Applied and at our customers on a technical level to get capability onto ships and into the hands of sailors.

At Applied, you will:

• Define program milestones, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables for programs adapting our SDV platform to naval vessels. Monitor progress, mitigate risks, and ensure quality

• Develop and execute release plans for software and hardware components, coordinating engineering teams across vehicle OS, middleware, networking, security, and tooling

• Translate shipboard requirements (scale, redundancy, environmental constraints, long service life, and integration with existing ship systems) into clear technical work for engineering teams adapting an automotive-origin stack

• Plan and drive the path to authority to operate, building security and compliance evidence into the delivery pipeline (DevSecOps, continuous ATO) rather than treating accreditation as a one-time gate at the end

• Coordinate integration and test events with shipbuilders, Navy labs, and third-party system vendors, from lab and land-based test sites through shipboard installation

• Serve as a vital point of contact for government and industry customers, understanding requirements, managing expectations, and providing regular updates

• Align technical roadmaps across internal and external teams, identifying where commercial automotive practices can be adopted directly and where naval needs require new work

• Drive problem-solving and decision-making across teams to resolve technical, schedule, and contractual issues

We’re looking for someone who has:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field

• 5+ years of experience in technical program management for complex software or software-intensive hardware systems

• Proven experience delivering embedded, vehicle, or platform software programs, ideally involving software-defined vehicles, real-time systems, or safety-critical software

• Experience working directly with defense customers or on DoD programs, and familiarity with how government programs are funded, contracted, and reviewed

• Enough technical depth to engage credibly with engineers on operating systems, middleware, networking, and software release processes

• Ability to execute thoughtfully and efficiently, with a “no task is too big or too small” mindset to get the job done

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, including with senior government and industry stakeholders

• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to travel as needed, including to shipyards, Navy facilities, and customer sites

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance (active Secret or higher preferred)

Security Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

• Must hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with Navy programs or organizations such as NAVSEA, PEO Ships, PEO IWS, or NAVWAR, or experience in shipbuilding and ship systems integration

• Familiarity with the DoD Software Acquisition Pathway, agile and DevSecOps approaches in government programs, and modular open systems approaches (MOSA)

• Understanding of the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the ATO process, including continuous ATO

• Familiarity with safety and development standards across domains, such as ISO 26262, ASPICE, and MIL-STD-882

• Prior military service, particularly in a shipboard or engineering role

• Prior experience in a startup environment, demonstrating adaptability and a can-do attitude

• Experience with project management tools such as JIRA

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact [e-mail]. We will work with you!