Program Manager Jobs in California
Program Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, defense, life sciences, and enterprise software across a seniority range from associate program manager through senior and director-level roles. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Lockheed Martin, and Kaiser Permanente maintain deep and ongoing program management needs. The most in-demand specialties right now are technical program management, healthcare operations program management, and agile delivery programs tied to large-scale product and infrastructure work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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We are looking for an exceptional Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to join our Maritime Domain team, integrating Shield AI’s Hivemind Autonomy stack onto Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and, in the future, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). Your role will include starting programs from the ground up and guiding them through production and into operational employment. This role requires a self-starter who can integrate quickly with a fast-moving, highly competent team.
You will drive alignment across software development and integration activities with domestic and international customers while remaining synchronized with Business Development colleagues. This role requires close coordination with colleagues across Shield AI’s international teams, including offices in Europe and Asia, and a motivated, cross-functional leadership approach.
The ideal candidate has a combination of government and commercial program management experience, with strong, established fundamentals in coordinating complex, first-of-a-kind integration efforts. You will be responsible for driving cost, schedule, integration readiness, risk management, and successful operational outcomes while pushing the boundaries of maritime autonomy. We are looking for a candidate who can think critically and creatively while leveraging a firm foundation in managing risk across new and foundational programs.
What you'll do:
Lead Assigned Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Autonomy and Future Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Integration Programs
Serve as the program manager for assigned USV programs, leading the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto USV platforms.
Support the development and execution of future UUV autonomy integration programs as opportunities mature.
Establish Clear Objectives
Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.
Program & Project Management
- Own the development and execution of integrated program and project plans, including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.
Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions
Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment. Hands-on experience with software or autonomy products is an accelerator.
Integration & Test Readiness
Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground testing, and sea trial operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful USV/UUV integration and operational deployment.
Identify potential bottlenecks, critical-path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical-path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Communicate with Excellence
Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up. Ensure stakeholders remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.
Drive Technical Execution
Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.
Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles
Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.
Deliver Outcomes
Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.
Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives
Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.
Required qualifications:
Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
Willingness to travel internationally
Preferred qualifications:
Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
Familiarity with DoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.
Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance or higher.
Full-time regular employee offer package:
We are looking for an exceptional Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to join our Maritime Domain team, integrating Shield AI’s Hivemind Autonomy stack onto Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and, in the future, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). Your role will include starting programs from the ground up and guiding them through production and into operational employment. This role requires a self-starter who can integrate quickly with a fast-moving, highly competent team.
You will drive alignment across software development and integration activities with domestic and international customers while remaining synchronized with Business Development colleagues. This role requires close coordination with colleagues across Shield AI’s international teams, including offices in Europe and Asia, and a motivated, cross-functional leadership approach.
The ideal candidate has a combination of government and commercial program management experience, with strong, established fundamentals in coordinating complex, first-of-a-kind integration efforts. You will be responsible for driving cost, schedule, integration readiness, risk management, and successful operational outcomes while pushing the boundaries of maritime autonomy. We are looking for a candidate who can think critically and creatively while leveraging a firm foundation in managing risk across new and foundational programs.
What you'll do:
Lead Assigned Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Autonomy and Future Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Integration Programs
Serve as the program manager for assigned USV programs, leading the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto USV platforms.
Support the development and execution of future UUV autonomy integration programs as opportunities mature.
Establish Clear Objectives
Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.
Program & Project Management
- Own the development and execution of integrated program and project plans, including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.
Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions
Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment. Hands-on experience with software or autonomy products is an accelerator.
Integration & Test Readiness
Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground testing, and sea trial operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful USV/UUV integration and operational deployment.
Identify potential bottlenecks, critical-path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical-path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Communicate with Excellence
Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up. Ensure stakeholders remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.
Drive Technical Execution
Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.
Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles
Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.
Deliver Outcomes
Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.
Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives
Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.
Required qualifications:
Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
Willingness to travel internationally
Preferred qualifications:
Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
Familiarity with DoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.
Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance or higher.
Full-time regular employee offer package:
See All 682+ Program Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager JobsProgram Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Program Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Google40
- OpenAI36
- Meta27
- Tesla22
- Apple21
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software19
- Staffing & Recruiting6
- Electronics & Hardware6
- Education2
- Manufacturing2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, computer science, or a related field required
- PMP certification preferred or required for mid-level and senior program manager roles
- Five or more years managing cross-functional programs in a California industry context
- Demonstrated proficiency with program tracking tools such as Jira, Smartsheet, or Asana
- Experience coordinating across engineering, product, and business stakeholder teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive-level reporting and updates
Program Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a program manager in California?
Most program manager roles in California require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business administration, engineering, or computer science, along with several years of project or program coordination experience. California does not issue a state-specific license for program managers, but the Project Management Professional certification from PMI is widely treated as a de facto standard by California technology, defense, and healthcare employers. Building experience through coordinator or project manager roles first is the most common path.
Which companies hire program managers in California?
Employers hiring program managers in California right now include Google, OpenAI, and Meta, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's dense concentration of technology headquarters, defense contractors, and large integrated health systems makes it one of the deepest program management job markets in the country.
Which California cities have the most program manager jobs?
San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara consistently have the most program manager openings in California. The Bay Area dominates because of its concentration of major technology and enterprise software headquarters, Los Angeles draws heavily from entertainment technology, aerospace, and healthcare, and San Diego is driven by defense contractors, biotech, and life sciences employers that run complex multi-year programs.
Are there remote program manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Program management is a coordination and communication role that translates well to distributed work environments. About 57% of program manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the technology-heavy nature of the California market. The most remote-friendly specialties are technical program management and software delivery roles at product-focused companies.
How can I get hired as a program manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a program coordinator or project coordinator role first, then building toward program management. Large California technology employers like Google and Apple run associate program manager rotational programs that accept recent graduates. Defense contractors in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets regularly hire junior program coordinators who hold a relevant degree. Earning a CAPM certification from PMI and gaining hands-on experience with tools like Jira or Smartsheet gives candidates without direct experience a measurable edge in California applications.
Where can I find and apply to program manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to program manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across technology, defense, healthcare, and enterprise sectors. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly from the listing.
See All 682+ Program Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager Jobs