Senior Program Manager (Research Programs)

D-Wave•Burnaby, BC

37d•CA$105,000 - CA$144,000

About The Position

D-Wave is seeking a Senior Program Manager to support a portfolio of research programs across the company. This role works closely with scientists, technical leaders, and external collaborators to plan and coordinate complex research initiatives spanning quantum hardware, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other emerging technology areas. You will primarily support internal research programs, helping teams define plans, coordinate resources, manage dependencies, track progress, and communicate outcomes. Work spans experimental software and hardware development and testing. It may also involve managing joint initiatives with universities, national laboratories, industry partners, and other research organizations. Success in this role requires the ability to bring structure to ambiguity, enabling informed tradeoffs, and maintaining momentum toward milestones as plans evolve. The ideal candidate combines strong program management fundamentals with the ability to work effectively in highly technical environments.

Requirements

5+ years of experience supporting scientific research, advanced technology development, engineering programs, or highly technical cross-functional initiatives.
Proven ability to develop project plans, coordinate stakeholders, manage execution, and deliver results in dynamic environments.
Experience managing schedules, dependencies, risks, resource planning, and competing priorities across multiple initiatives.
Strong ability to influence and work effectively with highly technical stakeholders without formal authority.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive reporting and technical documentation.
Ability to learn new technical concepts and work effectively with subject matter experts.
Experience with tools such as Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, or similar platforms.
Comfort operating in evolving, research-driven environments where outcomes are uncertain, and ensuring expectations are aligned.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in physics, math, engineering, or computer science.
Experience in quantum computing, quantum hardware, AI/ML, advanced computing, semiconductor technologies, or related areas.
Experience coordinating resource-constrained R&D efforts.
Experience coordinating research partnerships involving universities, national laboratories, industry consortia, government research organizations, or external technology collaborators.
Experience supporting hardware development, experimental research, fabrication, testing, or laboratory-based programs.
Experience establishing or improving program management processes, frameworks, and reporting standards.
PMP, Agile, Scrum, or similar certification/training.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, and track research and technology development programs from initiation through execution, ensuring clear objectives, milestones, deliverables, and timelines.
Partner with scientists and technical leaders to develop execution plans, resource requirements, schedules, and success criteria for research initiatives.
Represent business priorities in communication with researchers, ensuring that research directions align with corporate objectives.
Drive delivery in environments with technical uncertainty, adapting plans while maintaining progress toward milestones.
Identify and manage risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and schedule impacts proactively.
Coordinate shared technical resources, including laboratory infrastructure, testing schedules, fabrication activities, equipment utilization, and other critical program dependencies.
Support cross-functional alignment across research, engineering, product, and operations teams on priorities and deliverables.
Facilitate collaboration with external research partners, including universities, national laboratories, industry collaborators, technology partners, and research consortia.
Coordinate technical exchange meetings, program reviews, workshops, and other activities that support joint research objectives.
Develop and maintain program documentation, including project plans, action items, milestone tracking, decision logs, status reports, and executive updates.
Prepare clear updates for stakeholders on progress, risks, decisions, and overall program health.
Improve program management processes, tools, and reporting practices to increase efficiency, visibility, and execution effectiveness.
Conduct post-project reviews and capture lessons learned to support continuous improvement.