Technical Program Manager
Redmond, WA (Onsite)
12 Months
 
Must-Have Skills
Strong Technical and Program Management Expertise

• Proven experience driving complex technical programs, especially in research environments related to display, optics, or VR/AR technologies.
• Expertise in project estimating, scheduling, risk management, and delivering within scope, quality, time, and budget constraints.

Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage internal and external teams, including matrixed employees and contractors.
• Strong skills in dependency management, cross-group collaboration, and stakeholder communication at multiple organizational levels.

Adaptability and Problem-Solving

• Resilience in pursuing solutions to complex and challenging problems.
• Strong judgment and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

 
Nice-to-Have Skills   
Advanced Education and Specialized Experience

• Graduate degree in engineering or scientific fields related to display, optics, or imaging.
• Experience with optics and display development projects, especially in consumer markets.

Experience Transitioning Research to Products

• Track record of successfully transitioning emerging technologies from research to consumer products.

Cross-Disciplinary Team Experience

• Experience working with diverse teams including researchers, software engineers, and hardware engineers.

 
Related Job Titles/Keywords

• Experience in computer graphics
• Experience in AR graphics systems
• Experience in VR graphics systems
• Experience in rendering algorithms

 
What makes this role attractive to top talent, and what unique value does it offer to the ideal candidate? 

• Team mission is to develop advanced all-day wearable and immersive near-eye display systems.
• We collaborate closely with research, finance, and legal teams to drive innovation.
• We seek a resilient Technical Program Manager with strong VR/AR display expertise and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Pioneering breakthrough research and developing next-generation VR/AR components expected to hit the market within 5 to 10 years
• Innovating the next generation of VR and related technologies.

Interviews/Screening/Next Steps: 2 rounds
 
Job Description:

• We are seeking a dedicated and innovative Technical Program Manager to drive programs focused on graphics, VR/AR rendering technologies, and related software and hardware systems.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation and proficiency in graphics pipelines, rendering algorithms, and VR/AR graphics technologies, along with the capacity to manage complex and challenging projects.
• This role requires a candidate who is resilient in finding solutions to hard problems and is adept at building cross-functional relationships and motivating teams to ensure smooth and predictable program execution in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with research, engineering, and business teams to define roadmaps, milestones, and deliverables related to graphics and rendering technologies.
• Partner with technical leads to develop program strategies, prioritize tasks, and achieve OKRs focused on graphics innovation and VR/AR visual experiences.
• Deliver programs within defined scope, quality, time, and budget while managing moderate risk factors.
• Engage in strategic planning at the program level, interact with executives, resolve complex issues, and foster effective communication and team building.
• Manage internal and external teams, including matrixed employees and contractors, to deliver graphics systems and enhancements.
• Oversee project scope, requirements, scheduling, budgeting, status reporting, risk management, and communication across all organizational levels.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience as a Technical Program Manager.
• Proven experience in driving programs within ambiguous research or development environments.
• Strong skills in project management, leadership, dependency management, and cross-group collaboration.
• Experience managing external technical engagements with industry and academia.
• Knowledge in graphics pipeline development, rendering algorithms, GPU architectures, and VR/AR graphics systems.
• Experience in organizational management, budget control, and headcount management.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in an engineering or scientific field related to computer graphics, visualization, or VR/AR.
• Experience with graphics development projects, particularly in consumer or VR/AR markets.
• Track record of transitioning research or emerging graphics technologies into consumer products.
• Experience working with cross-disciplinary teams, including researchers and software/hardware engineers.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in project estimating, scheduling, customer interaction, and implementation planning.
• Proven ability in people management and team building.
• Strong adaptability, judgment, and priority management.
• Quick learner of business processes and effective communicator with partners at varying levels.
• Strong ability to assess risk and apply management principles to graphics technology applications/products and business functions.
• Experience delivering technology and business solutions in large-scale, multi-platform environments.

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 75.00/hr.