Director / Sr Program Manager, AI Accelerator

Quadric has created an innovative general purpose neural processing unit (GPNPU) architecture. Quadric's co-optimized software and hardware is targeted to run neural network (NN) inference workloads in a wide variety of edge and endpoint devices, ranging from battery operated smart-sensor systems to high-performance automotive or autonomous vehicle systems. Unlike other NPUs or neural network accelerators in the industry today that can only accelerate a portion of a machine learning graph, the Quadric GPNPU executes both NN graph code and conventional C++ DSP and control code.

Quadric is seeking an experienced and highly technical Program Manager to drive the successful planning and execution of our software and hardware product releases, focusing on our cutting-edge AI acceleration chips and embedded systems. This is a critical leadership role responsible for program management across the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept and customer requirements gathering to final release, delivery, and safety certification.

If making an impact and having a seat at the table is important to you, this is the opportunity for you. Join our small, rapidly-growing team at Quadric to develop supercomputer technology designed for the Edge. In this position, you will be a core member of our team, and will have an opportunity to grow in the company of expert technologists who also happen to be good people you’ll want to spend time with.

Our preference is for a candidate located in the California Bay Area who can regularly collaborate from our Burlingame office. We believe strong technical collaboration, rapid iteration, and shared problem-solving are well supported by working together in person. The team and company also gather periodically for onsite meetings and offsite events to connect, collaborate, and align on priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Program and Project Management

• SW Release Management: Own and program manage all aspects of complex Software (SW) Releases, ensuring on-time delivery, quality, and scope adherence.
• Execution and Tracking: Drive and track progress across engineering and cross-functional teams, identifying bottlenecks, mitigating risks, and proactively driving execution to meet program milestones.
• Process Implementation: Champion and enforce effective program management methodologies and best practices across the organization.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Facilitate and drive alignment between engineering (SW, HW, Silicon), product management, sales, operations, and external partners.

Customer Engagement and Requirement Management

• Customer Advocacy: Act as the primary point of contact for technical program matters with key customers, translating their needs into actionable engineering tasks.
• Defect and Requirement Funnel: Manage the funneling of requirements and defects back to the engineering organization, ensuring clear prioritization and timely resolution.
• External Communication: Clearly communicate program status, risks, and dependencies to executive leadership, technical teams, and external stakeholders.

Safety Certification and Compliance

• Certification Drive: Lead the end-to-end program management for safety certification processes (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508) for our products and associated tools, ensuring all necessary documentation and engineering rigor is met.

Requirements:
Required Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in a Program Management (PM) role, specifically focused on technical programs involving AI acceleration chips, embedded systems, software, and hardware.
• Education: Master's degree (MS) in Computer Science or a related technical field is required.
• Global Collaboration: Proven experience successfully working with and managing distributed teams and programs across multiple geographies and timezones.
• PM Tools Expertise: Deep expertise and proficiency with Program Management tools such as JIRA, GitHub Issues, and Quality Center (QC), including advanced reporting and workflow management.
• Domain Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to drive complex technical projects in the AI/ML and embedded processing domain.

Highly Desired Skills and Experience (Pluses)

• AI Compiler Knowledge: Good understanding and working knowledge of AI SW compilers (e.g., TVM, MLIR, LLVM, IREE).
• AI Frameworks and Kernels: Knowledge of AI kernel development and familiarity with popular deep learning frameworks like JAX, PyTorch, ONNX, and TensorFlow (TF).
• Professional Certification: Current Program Management (PM) certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP, CSM, SAFe) is a significant plus.

Benefits:
At Quadric, we value Integrity, Humility, and Happiness. What we expect from one another is simple and clear: Initiative, Collaboration, and Completion. We are a collaborative team focused on building something extraordinary in the edge computing space.

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity
• Medical, dental, and vision plan options starting on day one
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible paid time off (unlimited, non-accrual) to support work-life balance
• When working in-office, enjoy company-provided lunches and a stocked kitchen
• Convenient office location within walking distance of the Caltrain station
• Support for commuting, including monthly parking or Caltrain passes
• Downtown Burlingame office location, close to shops, cafes, and local amenities
• A politics-free, highly collaborative environment where talented people can do their best work and make an immediate impact
• The opportunity to build long-term career relationships in a company that values strong personal connections alongside professional excellence

Founded in 2016 and based in downtown Burlingame, California, Quadric is building the world’s first supercomputer designed for the real-time needs of edge devices. Quadric aims to empower developers in every industry with superpowers to create tomorrow’s technology, today. The company was co-founded by technologists from MIT and Carnegie Mellon, who were previously the technical co-founders of the Bitcoin computing company 21.

Quadric is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can do their best work. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if your experience does not perfectly match every qualification. We value potential, curiosity, and a willingness to learn just as much as direct experience. Skills and growth come in many forms, and we would love to hear your story.