Technical Program Manager – Software/Release, Principal

At d-Matrix, we are focused on unleashing the potential of generative AI to power the transformation of technology. We are at the forefront of software and hardware innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Our culture is one of respect and collaboration.

We value humility and believe in direct communication. Our team is inclusive, and our differing perspectives allow for better solutions. We are seeking individuals passionate about tackling challenges and are driven by execution.  Ready to come find your playground? Together, we can help shape the endless possibilities of AI. 

Location:

Hybrid, working onsite at our Santa Clara, Ca headquarters 3-5 days per week.

The Role: Technical Program Manager – Software/Release, Principal

We are seeking a Principal Technical Program Manager to drive engineering excellence and lead the release management function across the global software organization. This role will focus on creating lightweight, scalable processes that enable predictable project delivery in a high-growth startup environment. You will act as the operational bridge between Engineering, Product, QA, and IT, translating company objectives into actionable software programs and driving the end-to-end release lifecycle. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment and is passionate about delivering high-quality software on time.

What you will do:

Release Management & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Drive End-to-End Release Cycles: Own the software release lifecycle from planning through deployment. Coordinate closely with Engineering, Product

• Management, QA, and IT/DevOps to ensure all workstreams are aligned on scope, dependencies, and timelines.

• Release Quality & Governance: Establish and enforce release criteria and quality gates. Partner with QA to ensure that testing coverage is sufficient and that critical bugs are resolved prior to release, preventing regressions in the field.

• Stakeholder Management: Act as the central point of contact for releases, clearly communicating release contents, status, risks, and "go/no-go" decisions to stakeholders ranging from technical leads to executive leadership.

• Infrastructure & Tooling Alignment: Collaborate with IT and DevOps teams to ensure the CI/CD pipelines and build infrastructure to support high-velocity, reliable releases.

Program Execution & Strategy

• Implement agile practices suited to a fast-paced, scaling startup, ensuring predictable cadence.

• Define metrics, dashboards, and reporting to track progress, program health, and release velocity.

• Develop playbooks and best practices for program and release management across the organization.

• Translate product and business goals into executable engineering programs.

• Identify and mitigate risks to delivery schedules and quality, proactively managing dependencies across hardware, software, and partner teams.

What you will bring:

Minimum:

• 10+ years of Technical Program Management experience in software development.

• Release Management Expertise: Proven experience managing complex software releases involving multiple stakeholders (Eng, Product, QA, IT) and establishing release governance processes. · Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence without authority. · Educational background in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.

• Experience in companies with complex software/hardware integration.

• Proven track record managing distributed, multi-region engineering teams.

• Strong understanding of software lifecycle (SDLC), CI/CD pipelines, and agile methodologies.

• Proficiency with Jira, Smartsheet, Confluence, and project toolchain integration.

• Familiarity with AI/ML, compiler/runtime, or kernel development.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in AI/ML infrastructure, semiconductor, or system software companies.

• Knowledge of optimization for GPUs, NPUs, or custom ASICs.

• Experience scaling engineering teams at Series B/C stage startups.

• Experience managing external dependencies or customer-driven release timelines.

What we offer:

• Opportunity to shape program and release management practices across a fast-growing AI company.

• High-impact role influencing the effectiveness and quality of a global software team.

• Collaboration with world-class engineers at the cutting edge of AI and system software.

• Competitive compensation, equity, and professional growth opportunities.

Success Metrics:

• Predictable Release Cycles: Releases are delivered on time with agreed-upon scope and high quality.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Seamless coordination between Engineering, Product, QA, and IT, measured by stakeholder feedback and reduced friction during handoffs.

• Process Scalability: Implementation of practices that support growth to 300+ engineers.

• Planning Accuracy: More accurate forecasting across projects with clear visibility into release health.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

d-Matrix is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to do their best work. We hire the best talent for our teams, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. Our focus is on hiring teammates with humble expertise, kindness, dedication and a willingness to embrace challenges and learn together every day.

d-Matrix does not accept resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies. We appreciate the interest and effort of recruitment firms, but we kindly request that individual interested in opportunities with d-Matrix apply directly through our official channels. This approach allows us to streamline our hiring processes and maintain a consistent and fair evaluation of al applicants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.