Director, Program Management (Robotics)

TL;DR

Director, Program Management (Robotics): Leading the execution, requirements, and test strategy for unmanned air systems with an accent on cross-functional coordination between engineering, product, and operations. Focus on managing complex program dependencies, ensuring mission-critical reliability, and driving successful delivery of autonomous swarm technology.

Location: Must be based in San Diego, CA

Salary: $176,000–$205,920 plus bonus, equity, and benefits

Company

hirify.global is a defense technology company specializing in advanced swarm autonomy software for air, surface, and undersea vehicles.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end execution of paid events and strategic demonstrations, including budget and margin accountability.
• Develop and own the test strategy across SITL, HITL, and real-world flight testing.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including DevSecOps, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Publish product requirements and roadmaps, translating operational needs into actionable engineering specifications.
• Manage cross-platform dependencies and commitments within the Red Cat global organization.
• Establish and mature program management processes and documentation standards as the portfolio scales.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in program management, product management, or systems engineering.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence required due to ITAR/EAR export control regulations.
• Demonstrated experience owning product requirements for hardware-plus-software products.
• Proven track record in developing test plans for complex systems including SITL/HITL and live flight testing.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with experience managing complex dependencies.
• Ability to pass a post-offer background check.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in defense technology startups or scale-ups.
• Formal test and evaluation (T&E) background.
• Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, or MAVLink ecosystems.
• PMP or SAFe certification.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to build and scale a program management function from the ground up.
• Work on cutting-edge collaborative swarm autonomy for real-world defense applications.
• Competitive compensation package including equity and performance bonuses.
• Collaborative environment prioritizing operational reliability and mission relevance.
• Travel opportunities for flight testing and customer demonstrations (up to 25%).