Program Manager Jobs in San Diego, CA
Program Manager jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and Kearny Mesa, across defense contracting, biotech, and technology sectors, with steady openings at multiple experience levels. Employers actively hiring include Intuit, Apple, and Northrop Grumman. 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 San Diego
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Find Program Manager JobsProgram Manager Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Intuit64
- Apple43
- Northrop Grumman43
- Prevailance43
- Neurocrine Biosciences43
Program Manager Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a program manager job in San Diego?
The strongest path into San Diego's program manager market runs through defense contracting and biotech, the two sectors that drive the most consistent local demand. Employers in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the UTC corridor look for candidates who can manage cross-functional teams within regulated or compliance-heavy environments. PMP certification, Agile or SAFe experience, and familiarity with federal contract structures all give candidates a clear edge here.
Which companies hire program managers in San Diego?
Companies currently hiring program managers in San Diego include Intuit, Apple, and Northrop Grumman, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's employer mix skews toward defense primes, life sciences firms, and mid-size technology companies, many of which run multiple simultaneous programs and hire program managers at several levels year-round.
Are there remote program manager jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though availability varies by sector. Program manager roles tied to defense contracts or lab-based biotech work tend to require on-site presence, while those in software and enterprise technology are more commonly remote or hybrid. About 44% of program manager openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the remote segment concentrated in tech and SaaS companies operating out of the UTC and downtown corridors.
How can I get a program manager job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is moving into a junior program coordinator or project coordinator role at a defense contractor or biotech firm, where structured programs and large team sizes create more entry-level openings than at smaller employers. Companies in Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley regularly bring in coordinators who grow into program management tracks. Demonstrating familiarity with scheduling tools, contract deliverables, and cross-team communication accelerates that transition locally.
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