Technical Program Manager, R&D
Job description
About the role
SandboxAQ develops Large Quantitative Models to solve complex problems across life sciences, cybersecurity, and physics. This role manages the execution of high-uncertainty research projects by bridging the gap between scientific exploration and commercial product delivery. The hire will own the end-to-end orchestration of scientific initiatives, ensuring that ambitious research translates into tangible, scalable outcomes. They will act as the central coordination point for cross-functional teams, aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared technical vision. This position is responsible for maintaining rigorous oversight of project health, proactively identifying risks, and driving efficient execution. The role demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to guide projects through uncharted scientific territory. Success will be measured by the reliable delivery of research milestones and the effective translation of scientific findings into product pathways. The Technical Program Manager will ensure that resource investments directly support strategic objectives and accelerate the company's mission.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Identify and mitigate technical bottlenecks before they impact project timelines through proactive analysis and intervention.
- Facilitate communication between R&D, Product, Engineering, and Finance to align scientific goals with ROI requirements and strategic priorities.
- Create and maintain adaptive project roadmaps that respond to evolving research results while preserving clear accountability and ownership.
- Establish operational rituals and cadences tailored specifically to the needs of a scientific team to enhance predictability and insight.
- Lead resource planning discussions with leadership to secure necessary support, tools, and capacity for R&D teams.
- Manage the final stages of product launches, research publications, and critical milestone deliveries to ensure quality and coherence.
- Synthesize complex scientific data into coherent narratives for diverse audiences, including executives, engineers, and investors.
- Monitor project dependencies and external factors, adjusting plans to maintain momentum in the face of scientific or market shifts.
- Implement structured risk assessment and mitigation practices to protect high-stakes research programs from unforeseen challenges.
- Drive the definition of success metrics for research initiatives, enabling data-driven decisions on continuation, pivot, or completion.
- Partner with product teams to translate scientific capabilities into viable commercial solutions that meet market needs.
- Oversee detailed timelines and dependencies, ensuring that critical path activities are tracked and communicated effectively.
- Coordinate cross-functional working sessions to resolve blockers, clarify requirements, and align on near-term execution plans.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of decisions, assumptions, and outcomes to support institutional learning and continuity.
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience in technical program management, specifically embedded within R&D or deep-science teams.
- Proven ability to rescue stalled or high-stakes programs during critical phases, restoring momentum and stakeholder confidence.
- Experience building and defending roadmaps for projects with high levels of scientific uncertainty and evolving hypotheses.
- Ability to rapidly acquire fluency in new scientific domains, quickly becoming a functional expert to guide project strategy.
- Advanced degree in a technical field OR extensive work history within scientific organizations that demonstrates deep subject-matter understanding.
- Experience collaborating with finance and product leadership on investment-linked delivery and prioritization decisions.
- Demonstrated skill in managing complex dependencies across distributed teams and asynchronous communication channels.
- Strong analytical mindset combined with the judgment to make timely decisions in environments with incomplete information.
Nice to have
- Startup experience or work in environments with rapidly shifting priorities and limited formal structure.
- Direct background in biotech or biopharma, with exposure to high-regulation or highly iterative development cycles.
- Degree in machine learning or a drug-discovery-related field that provides a deeper foundation for scientific dialogue.
- Experience implementing program management tools or automation that teams adopt and maintain to improve transparency.
Skills & tools
- Technical program management
- Roadmap development
- Cross-functional stakeholder management
- Resource planning
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Scientific project lifecycle management
Practical notes
This position is fully remote within the United States, allowing the selected candidate to work from any location within the country. Compensation includes a competitive base salary, equity participation, and performance-based incentives designed to reward long-term impact. The total rewards package features comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, robust retirement matching contributions, and generous paid parental leave policies. SandboxAQ operates as an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals during the application process. All employment is contingent upon the completion of standard background and verification procedures required for the role.