Research & Development Program Manager

Cellebrite•New York, NY

About The Position

Cellebrite is seeking an experienced Program Manager based in New York City to lead delivery of its SaaS and AI-powered solutions. The role partners closely with R&D teams in the US and Americas and cross-functional teams in EU time zones, owning the program lifecycle from concept through deployment and using AI to make delivery faster, more predictable, and more transparent. The Program Manager builds and maintains plans covering requirements, development, AI/ML model readiness, and SaaS deployment; leads distributed cross-functional teams; manages progress, dependencies, risks, and blockers; and serves as a primary program partner to R&D leaders, architects, and product managers. The position coordinates SaaS releases across multiple products with Development, DevOps, and Product teams. The role also applies generative AI and analytics to program operations, including reporting, risk detection, meeting summaries, roadmap analysis, and documentation. It defines and tracks delivery metrics, leads AI adoption in delivery processes, coaches teams on practical AI use, promotes program-management best practices, and communicates status, risks, and issues to stakeholders and executives.

Requirements

Ability to work effectively in a global matrixed organization and lead through influence.
Proven experience managing programs across distributed teams and time zones, including the US/Americas and EU.
Ability to create short-term and long-term program plans.
Strong analytical, logical, and critical thinking.
Deep understanding of SaaS deployment models, cloud technologies, and Agile methodologies.
Hands-on experience using AI tools, such as LLM assistants and AI features in Jira, Confluence, or Microsoft 365, to improve planning, reporting, and execution.
Working knowledge of AI/ML product lifecycle concepts, including data dependencies, model evaluation, versioning, and responsible-AI and compliance considerations.
Proficiency in Jira and Atlassian tools and in Excel.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including executive communication.
Up-to-date knowledge of program-management methodologies and trends.
B.Sc. in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent.
At least 5 years of program or project management experience with a record of success.
Experience with Agile methodology and project-management tools.
Experience working with R&D and Product teams and collaborating closely with architects.
Proven ability to work with multidisciplinary teams including product managers, developers, QA, and DevOps.
Excellent written and verbal English.
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, with a record of delivering complex projects on time and to quality.
Proficiency with project-management tools such as Jira or Asana, version control such as Git, and collaboration platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams.

Nice To Haves

Data analysis experience with Excel and BI tools.
Experience with Agile portfolio management, such as SAFe, Jira Align, or similar.
Experience with AI workflow automation or agents for program operations.
Experience in security, digital forensics, or other regulated environments.
PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or similar certification.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain program plans across requirements, development, AI/ML model readiness, documentation, and SaaS deployment.
Lead cross-functional teams across the US, Americas, and EU to deliver SaaS and AI-enabled capabilities on time and to quality standards.
Apply program methodologies and AI-assisted tools to improve productivity, forecast risks, and remove blockers.
Track progress, manage dependencies, and resolve conflicts proactively.
Serve as the primary program partner to R&D leaders, architects, and product managers.
Run planning cadences and collaborate across functions to keep teams aligned and decisions moving.
Manage releases of updates, enhancements, and new features across multiple SaaS products.
Coordinate with Development, DevOps, and Product to prioritize and schedule releases for smooth deployment.
Use generative AI tools to automate status reporting, risk detection, meeting summaries, roadmap analysis, and documentation.
Define and track delivery metrics such as velocity, cycle time, and predictability, using AI and BI insights to drive improvement.
Identify and lead AI adoption in program and delivery processes, and coach teams on practical use.
Drive program-management best practices and continuous improvement across teams.
Provide internal stakeholders and executives with clear, regular updates on status, risks, and issues.
Bring industry trends and benchmarks into SaaS and AI delivery.