Program Manager

Summary

GrayMatter Robotics is a well-capitalized Physical AI company headquartered in Los Angeles, building Factory SuperIntelligence (FSI) through systems that learn, adapt, and develop genuine process intelligence across every part they touch. Our robots take on the tedious, hazardous, and ergonomically demanding work that has kept manufacturing dependent on a shrinking skilled workforce, delivering superhuman performance. Robotics has a demo problem. GMR doesn't. Our systems are in active production today, adapting autonomously to real geometries, real materials, and real process variation without reprogramming. We deliver our system through a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model that converts capital expenditure into an operating subscription, making Physical AI accessible to the manufacturers who need it most. We hire people who want to solve hard physical problems at an industrial scale.

GMR is standing up one of the most ambitious builds in company history: a largely autonomous manufacturing facility supporting a major U.S. shipbuilding program, scaling from small components today to structures up to 50 feet across within two years. This role is the single point of continuity across that multi-year build, spanning dozens of new robotic applications, a key robotics collaborator, and the path to NAVSEA qualification. We need someone who has already built something at this scale before, because a program this complex cannot be handed off in pieces.

Role & Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of a multi-year, defense-scale manufacturing build-out, including standing up the physical facility itself (permitting, layout, and utilities), through to full production qualification.

• Coordinate ongoing production operations once qualified, not just the qualification milestone itself, so output stays on schedule as volume scales.

• Sequence work across a growing set of robotic applications, including cutting, beveling, grinding, blasting, spraying, inspection, and material handling, so each application's output cleanly feeds the next.

• Coordinate design and scheduling decisions between GMR's engineering teams and a key external robotics collaborator to keep interdependent workstreams aligned.

• Own the qualification roadmap with the NAVSEA, translating federal requirements into a sequenced plan for robotic process approval.

• Report program status, risk, and milestones to senior leadership on both the customer and GMR side, including executive and government stakeholders.

• Identify program risk early and resolve cross-functional bottlenecks before they affect schedule, cost, or qualification timelines.

• Build and maintain the single source of truth for program requirements, milestones, and inter-company handoffs.

• Use AI-native tools to track program status, surface risk earlier, and keep documentation current across a fast-moving, multi-site build.

• Travel to customer and program sites as needed, up to 25% of the time.

Export Control Requirements

In order to comply with the export regulations of the United States Government, it is required that the applicant must fall under one of the following categories: (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (i.e. current green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering field, or equivalent professional engineering experience.

• 10+ years of experience in program or project management within complex, highly regulated engineering environments such as aerospace, automotive, maritime, or defense.

• Demonstrated experience standing up new production capability, not just managing an existing line.

• Proven track record managing executive-level and cross-organizational stakeholder relationships.

• Ability to operate with significant ambiguity and evolving scope, and to turn that ambiguity into a clear, sequenced plan.

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across multiple teams.

• Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with quickly changing priorities.

• Willingness to travel to customer sites as required by the role.

• Must meet export control requirements in the United States and maintain ongoing work authorization beginning at the time of hire through the entirety of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in maritime, shipbuilding, or naval engineering environments.

• Experience navigating NAVSEA or other federal qualification and compliance processes.

• Prior military engineering leadership experience, such as service academy commissioning, followed by private-industry experience.

• Demonstrated use of AI tools to automate workflows, analyze data, or accelerate program reporting.

GrayMatter Robotics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage and embrace applicants of all backgrounds to apply!

GrayMatter Robotics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you believe you require accommodations during the recruiting process, please contact accommodations@graymatter-robotics.com to submit your request.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Depending on the position and if listed, compensation may include the base salary range, bonus or commission, and equity. We also provide comprehensive benefits and perks which include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, unlimited PTO, 401(k) plan + employer match, regular offsite events, a discretionary fund for enhancing productivity and so much more! The range listed on job postings reflect the minimum and maximum new hire salary across levels in Los Angeles, CA.