Technical Program Manager, Machine Learning

Imagine having the power to stress-test an entire power grid against a hurricane or thunderstorm before the clouds even gather. That is the reality we are creating at Neara.

We use advanced machine learning to create engineering-grade, physics enabled digital twins of electricity grids across four continents, this helps asset owners understand their biggest challenges and bring the most viable solutions to life across millions of kilometres of infrastructure.

By simulating extreme weather and structural stress at a network-wide scale, we empower the world’s largest utilities to pinpoint risks, optimise investments and build a more resilient global energy future.

Our team is a collection of brilliant minds who are fanatical about making a tangible difference in the real world, utilising AI and machine learning to accelerate everything from data classification to complex scenario analysis. We have built a special culture where innovation thrives because everyone owns the mission and we need smart, creative people to help us scale this impact to every corner of the globe.

Our team is working at the frontier of geospatial AI, combining LiDAR, imagery, and large-scale spatial data to solve real-world infrastructure problems. This is genuinely complex, research-driven work, and we need the operational engine to match it.

We’re looking for a Technical Program Manager, Machine Learning to own the systems and processes that power our model development. This is not a traditional PM role. You’ll sit at the intersection of ML research, engineering, data operations, and compute infrastructure, translating scientific ambition into structured, executable plans, and ensuring we follow through.

A core focus of this role is transforming fragmented systems (across data, compute, and experimentation) into a cohesive ML development engine that directly improves model performance.

This role suits someone who is equally comfortable discussing model training dynamics with researchers and improving the operational systems that support them.

What you'll do

You will own and evolve the ML development engine, ensuring the right data, compute, and systems are in place to move quickly without compromising quality.

• Own the data feedback loop: from ingestion through labelling, QA, and ML-ready data

• Define and scale data systems and operations, including offshore QA teams, quality frameworks, and data capture and dataset expansion

• Support compute planning and solutioning, including managing vendor trials and execution strategy

• Partner with internal and external researchers (e.g. CSIRO) to translate model and R&D goals into structured, executable plans

• Contribute to opportunity research, helping shape future model and data directions

• Improve model performance tracking, evaluation visibility, and overall transparency, including documentation of AI R&D efforts

• Coordinate across teams to align priorities, manage dependencies, and drive delivery

What success looks like (first 6–12 months)

• Significant increase in the volume, quality, and accessibility of training data, particularly “golden” datasets

• A clear, well-understood ML development roadmap across teams

• Stronger alignment between research, data, and engineering on priorities and execution

• Measurable improvements in data pipeline efficiency and QA throughput

• Your work directly contributes to improved model performance through better data quality and system design

• The ability to take ambiguous goals and turn them into structured, scalable systems

What you'll bring

Machine Learning & Data Foundations

• Experience working in ML, data, or research-adjacent environments, with a solid understanding of how models are trained and evaluated

• Familiarity with machine learning pipelines, including data preparation, training, and evaluation workflows

• Experience managing or working closely with data labelling / annotation operations at scale

Program Execution & Systems Thinking

• Proven ability to lead complex technical programmes across multiple stakeholders

• Strong systems thinking - You can connect data, models, tooling, and processes into a cohesive operating system

• Comfortable working across ambiguity, defining structure where it doesn’t yet exist, and driving execution end-to-end

• Experience building or improving repeatable processes and operational frameworks

Operating Style

• High agency - You take ownership of problems and move them forward without waiting for perfect clarity

• Strong communicator who can bridge research, engineering, and operations effectively

• Curious, pragmatic, and action-oriented. You’re comfortable getting into the detail when needed

• Adaptable and resilient, able to operate across multiple streams and shifting priorities

Nice to have

• Experience with computer vision, geospatial data, or spatial neural networks

• Exposure to evaluation frameworks or ML performance measurement systems

Characteristics we look for

• No-ego, outcome-oriented team players. We back each other and win together

• You turn ambiguity into momentum. Vague problems don’t stall you; they give you something to structure

• You care about systems, not just tasks. You think in loops, dependencies, and long-term scalability

• You’re comfortable in the “messy middle”, where research, data, and operations overlap and nothing is fully defined

• You balance speed with judgement. You know when to move fast and when quality really matters

• You’re hands-on when it counts. You don’t sit above the work; you get into it to unblock progress

• You build trust across disciplines. Researchers, engineers, and operators all see you as someone who “gets it”

Why work here

• Competitive salary + ESOP. Significant career development and growth opportunities.

• Fully flexible working arrangements with a well-stocked office in Redfern.

• Annual company-wide offsite.

• Highly meritocratic, non-bureaucratic, and no-ego work culture.

• The opportunity to work on complex, meaningful products and real-world problems.

• The opportunity to play a direct, critical role in the trajectory of a high growth company.

• Neara values diversity, belonging, and equal employment opportunities. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

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