Program Manager

Role Summary Field AI is seeking a high caliber Program Manager to lead and oversee a large scale AI and autonomous systems program within the security sector.

The ideal candidate is a strategic operator with deep experience delivering complex, multi stakeholder programs in international environments particularly in government or defense/security contexts.

This role requires exceptional communication, operational discipline, technical fluency, and cultural intelligence.

You will serve as the primary driver of program success, ensuring we deliver on time, within scope, and with uncompromising quality.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Delivery

Own end-to-end delivery of a complex, multi year, Multi Million Dollar security sector program for a customer in Asia.

Build, manage, and scale program structures, execution plans, milestones, and risk frameworks.

Track budget, staffing, performance metrics, and contractual commitments to ensure on time, high quality delivery.

Lead program reviews, progress reports, and executive briefings with internal and customer leadership.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

Serve as the primary customer facing leader, maintaining exceptional relationships built on trust, transparency, and delivery excellence.

Translate customer requirements into actionable technical and operational plans.

Cross-Functional CoordinationPartner closely with engineering, product, operations, deployment, and business teams to ensure alignment and cohesion.

Anticipate cross functional gaps and proactively resolve issues before they become blockers.

Facilitate seamless communication across geographically distributed teams.

Risk, Compliance & Operational Readiness

Identify and mitigate program risks across technical, operational, regulatory, and geopolitical dimensions.

Ensure compliance with regional export controls, data handling requirements, and security protocols.

Coordinate field deployments, operational pilots, and on-site activities in Asia, including occasional travel.

Leadership & Scale

Define program governance, processes, and operating rhythms that set the standard for future Field AI programs.

Mentor junior project managers and contribute to scaling the program management function.

What You Have

8–12+ years of program or project leadership experience, ideally in defense, security, government, or advanced technology sectors.

Proven success delivering large scale ($3M–$20M), multi-year, multi-workstream programs.

Exceptional stakeholder management experience with international partners; ability to navigate cultural and political sensitivity.

Strong technical acumen, comfortable working with AI/ML systems, autonomous robotics, or complex software/hardware integrations.

Ability to operate in ambiguity, drive clarity, and create structure where none exists.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive level reporting.

Willingness to travel to customer sites in Asia as needed.

The Extras That Set You Apart

Experience working with Asian government ministries, security agencies, or enterprise security operations.

Background in AI/ML, robotics, command-and-control systems, defense technologies, or real-time situational awareness systems.

Engineering, computer science, systems engineering, or related technical degree (or equivalent experience).

Experience in startup or fast-scaling environments where adaptability and ownership are key.

Full time

Compensation and Benefits Our salary range is between ($70,000 - $300,000 annual), but we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Also, while we enjoy being together on-site, we are open to exploring a hybrid or remote option. Why Join Field AI? We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment. You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals. Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators. We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates. Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey! 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.