Program Manager

Field AI•Irvine, CA

16d•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

8â12+ years of program or project leadership experience, ideally in defense, security, government, or advanced technology sectors.
Proven success delivering large scale ($3Mâ$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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
Partner 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.
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.
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.