Technical Program Manager - Hardware Systems

FieldAI; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Equity

Generous time off

Job summary

FieldAI is seeking a Technical Program Manager in Irvine, California, to lead hardware program planning, execution, and delivery across robotics platforms. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree and 1–6 years of experience in program management or engineering. Responsibilities include coordinating cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and ensuring risk mitigation. This role also requires strong analytical skills and experience with tools like Jira. Compensation ranges from $70,000 to $300,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.

Qualifications

• 1–6 years of experience in program management, engineering, operations or related roles.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-growth startup environment.
• Basic technical understanding of hardware systems or engineering workflows.

Responsibilities

• Support program timelines, milestones, and deliverables across hardware development efforts.
• Coordinate efforts within hardware across electrical, mechanical, and embedded systems.
• Identify program risks and elevate issues early with clear communication.

Skills

Project tracking and management

Cross-functional communication

Analytical capabilities

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

Jira

Job description

About the Job

Hardware Team: The Hardware Team at Field AI develops perception and compute payloads that power autonomous robotics systems in complex real-world environments. We work across sensing systems, embedded compute, electrical systems, and mechanical integration, owning the full lifecycle from development through production and field deployment.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Technical Program Manager (TPM) to support the planning, execution, and delivery of hardware programs across our robotics platforms. The ideal candidate is highly organized, technically sound, and eager to operate at the intersection of engineering, operations, and product development. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to track progress, manage schedules, identify risks, and ensure alignment across hardware, software, and operations. This role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.

What You’ll Get To Do

1. Program Planning & Execution

• Timeline Management: Support program timelines, milestones, and deliverables across hardware development efforts.
• Progress Tracking: Track progress against plans, identify gaps, and help drive teams toward execution.
• Roadmap Development: Assist in building and maintaining program schedules and development roadmaps.

2. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Engineering Team Coordination: Coordinate efforts within the hardware across electrical, mechanical, and embedded systems to ensure alignment. Organize design reviews (PDR/CDR) to ensure teams stay on track.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensure strategic alignment across teams including engineering, field ops, product, and business.
• Meeting Facilitation: Facilitate meetings, track action items, and ensure follow-through across teams.
• Blocker Resolution: Resolve blockers by connecting the right stakeholders and driving decisions.

3. Risk & Issue Management

• Risk Identification: Identify program risks and elevate issues early with clear communication.
• Mitigation Planning: Maintain risk trackers and support mitigation planning with engineering teams.
• Status Transparency: Help ensure transparency around program status and challenges.

4. Communication & Reporting

• Status Updates: Prepare clear, concise updates on program status, risks, and key decisions.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate effectively with stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.
• Executive Reporting: Support executive-level reporting with structured, data-driven insights.

5. Operations & Build Support

• Build Coordination: Support prototype builds and development cycles by coordinating schedules and resources.
• Progress Monitoring: Assist with tracking component readiness, build progress, and issue resolution.
• Supply Chain: Develop and maintain a resilient supply chain by evaluating vendor options, coordinating with suppliers, and working with contract manufacturers.

What You Have

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience Level: 1–6 years of experience in program management, engineering, operations, or related roles.
• Tracking: Demonstrated experience tracking project activities and deliverables. Strong analytical capabilities, with experience tracking KPIs. Using tools such as Jira.
• Cross-Functional Communication/Alignment: Experience facilitating alignment between XF teams both internally and externally.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, ambiguous, and high‑growth startup environment.
• Technical Acumen: Basic technical understanding of hardware systems or engineering workflows.

What Will Set You Apart

• Robotics: Experience working on hardware or robotics programs.
• Hardware Lifecycle: Familiarity with product development lifecycles or NPI processes.
• Validation: Experience driving alignment for validation/qualification requirements for prototype development or changes to existing products.
• Strong Technical Acumen: Technical ability to engage with electrical, mechanical, sensing and compute teams and understand system-level trade-offs.
• Mass Production: Experience in scaling hardware systems from prototype to production.
• Credentials: MS technical degree, PMP certification.

Compensation

$70,000 - $300,000 a year. The salary range for this role is $70,000-$300,000. The actual offer for this position will be based on relevant experience, competencies, certifications, and how well the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above. Part of our compensation package also includes full benefits, equity, and generous time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.