AI Technical Program Manager

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AI Technical Program Manager

Location: Boston, MA (Onsite)



Job Type: Contract

Job Summary

STAFFXPERT LLC is seeking an AI Technical Program Manager on behalf of our client in Boston, MA. This role is ideal for a highly technical program management professional who thrives in fast-paced, innovative environments and enjoys building structure within emerging programs. The successful candidate will lead complex, cross-functional initiatives involving hardware development, lab operations, validation activities, and engineering execution while driving alignment across multiple stakeholders.

This position requires a strong technical foundation, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to manage risks, dependencies, and program priorities in an environment characterized by rapid growth and evolving requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Execution

• Own and manage integrated program plans covering hardware development, engineering milestones, lab operations, and validation activities.

• Develop and maintain dependency tracking across multiple engineering workstreams and proactively identify potential schedule risks.

• Establish and lead effective program cadences, including sprint planning, milestone reviews, risk assessments, and cross-functional alignment meetings.

• Track key action items, decisions, and commitments, ensuring accountability and timely execution.

Risk & Decision Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, operational, resource, and schedule risks.

• Facilitate structured decision-making processes and ensure appropriate escalation of critical issues.

• Develop and maintain program dashboards that provide leadership with clear visibility into project status, risks, and blockers.

• Lead tradeoff discussions and drive alignment when competing priorities impact program objectives.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a key liaison between engineering teams, lab operations, and organizational stakeholders.

• Translate technical updates into actionable program insights for leadership and non-technical audiences.

• Coordinate with partner organizations, including facilities, IT, supply chain, and external stakeholders, to resolve dependencies and remove obstacles.

• Manage scope changes and evolving priorities while maintaining clarity on program commitments and deliverables.

Process Improvement & Tooling

• Build and implement scalable program management processes suited to fast-moving research and development environments.

• Evaluate and optimize project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar platforms.

• Create and maintain RACI frameworks and governance structures to ensure clear ownership and accountability across teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

• 7+ years of Technical Program Management experience.

• Minimum 3 years of experience managing programs involving hardware development, robotics, physical systems, or related technologies.

• Strong technical understanding of hardware development processes, engineering workflows, testing, and validation methodologies.

• Proven experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary programs in highly ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments.

• Demonstrated success building program management processes, frameworks, and operational infrastructure from the ground up.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create executive-ready status reports, risk registers, and decision documentation.

• Strong stakeholder management, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within Physical AI, robotics, autonomous systems, advanced hardware, or research and development organizations.

• Knowledge of hardware product development lifecycles, including prototype builds, validation testing, and new product introduction processes.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and their application within hardware development environments.

• Experience working in high-growth technology companies, AI organizations, large-scale technology environments, or innovation-driven R&D teams.