Software AI Technical Program Manager

Familiar Machines & Magic

$135K — $160K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in technical program management, focusing on AI and ML products
  • Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary programs in software, AI, and hardware
  • Hands-on experience with AI/ML systems, including model development and evaluation
  • Ability to navigate research uncertainty and adapt project scope
  • Familiarity with modern development practices like agile and risk management
  • Preferred experience in consumer robotics or embedded systems

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end delivery of AI and software functionality from research to production
  • Maintain realistic program plans and adjust timelines as needed
  • Coordinate with multiple teams on shared dependencies
  • Proactively identify technical risks and manage cross-team dependencies
  • Establish program planning frameworks and deliver improvements to leadership
  • Partner with engineering to ensure alignment with the product roadmap
  • Balance research uncertainty with project deadlines and guide teams accordingly

Benefits

  • Opportunities to shape the development of emotional AI technology
  • Autonomous work environment with high ownership
  • Collaborative cross-functional team dynamics
  • Potential for professional growth in an emerging technology space
  • Focus on building innovative and impactful products
Full Job Description
We're looking for a Principal Software and AI Technical Program Manager to drive the development of the AI and software systems that bring Familiars to life. This is a senior, highly cross-functional role for someone who thrives where AI, software, hardware, and product meet, and who can turn ambitious, sometimes uncertain research into predictable, shippable milestones. You'll be the connective tissue across our AI and software teams, coordinating the work that gives a Familiar its intelligence: perception, machine learning, and behavior. You'll work closely with our Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM) and Chief R&D Officer to keep the AI, software, and hardware programs in lockstep, while owning delivery for the AI and software functions. As a Principal TPM, you'll operate with a high degree of autonomy: determining the objectives and approach for the team's most critical programs, driving strategic initiatives, and making the framework-level decisions that set direction for how the organization plans and ships. You'll help build something new to the world: emotionally intelligent Physical AI. This role reports to our Head of Technical Program Management. What You'll Do | Responsibilities & Scope • Own end-to-end delivery of complex AI and software functionality, from research through production, across the AI and Software teams • Build and maintain realistic program plans, schedules, and milestones, and keep them accurate as priorities and research outcomes shift • Coordinate across disciplines and sub-teams (e.g., perception, AI, behaviors) and collaborate tightly with the Hardware TPM on shared dependencies • Identify and manage technical risks and cross-team dependencies early, and move them to resolution • Set the framework for how programs are planned, sequenced, and delivered, and bring improvements to senior leadership • Partner with the engineering leadership and key stakeholders to align execution with the product roadmap • Balance research uncertainty with delivery deadlines, helping teams make smart trade-offs without losing momentum • Communicate status, risks, and changes clearly to stakeholders and leadership What You'll Bring | Experience, Expertise & Qualifications • Extensive experience in technical program or project management, including deep experience delivering AI/ML products • A track record leading multi-team programs where software, AI, and hardware come together, recognized by your peers as a technical leader in AI/ML program delivery • Strong, hands-on understanding of AI/ML systems: how models are built, trained, evaluated, and shipped in a real product • Experience managing programs through research uncertainty, where scope and outcomes aren't fixed up front • Fluency with modern development and release practices (agile, release planning, risk and dependency management) • Consumer robotics, embedded, or real-time systems experience (preferred) How You'll Succeed | Mindset, Judgment & Ways of Working • Autonomy and ownership: you take initiative on critical, ambiguous programs and move strategic work forward • Systems thinking: you hold the whole picture and see how AI, software, and hardware decisions ripple across each other • Comfort with ambiguity and genuine excitement for building a new category • Motivation to improve how the team works, paired with the judgment to bring the right recommendations to leadership • The ability to distill complex technical detail into clear, concise guidance for engineers and leadership alike • Empathy and steadiness under pressure • Driven by the opportunity to explore the intersection of technology, design, and emotional connection Please Note: We have often hired those that do not meet the exact requirements but that we found to be a great culture fit and have the relevant experience to be successful in the role. Please consider applying if this is you.

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