Saronic

Manager - Special Programs

Austin, TX · Exec

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 47 days ago

Product ManagementProduct StrategyProcurementEmbedded SystemsRoboticsMechanical DesignElectrical EngineeringHardware DesignCommunication

About the role

Saronic Special Programs is a small pathfinding team chartered to rapidly prototype new ideas.
You will be responsible for keeping projects on track, managing resources and budgets, and creating the conditions for a small, talented group of engineers to move quickly.

Plan and track prototype builds, field testing, and demonstrations, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and resources stay aligned across electrical, mechanical, and software contributors.
Collaborate directly with the VP of Product and the CTO to surface, scope, and prioritize new ideas the team should consider pursuing, and keep Special Programs work synchronized with the broader product roadmap
Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports.

Experience managing small, fast-moving engineering or R&D teams, ideally in robotics, aerospace, defense, or another hardware-intensive environment
Demonstrated ability to plan and execute against budgets, schedules, and resource constraints with limited overhead
Comfort partnering with senior technical and product leaders to evaluate new opportunities and translate ambiguous ideas into structured plans
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to keep cross-functional stakeholders aligned
High emotional intelligence, with the ability to keep teammates aligned
Bachelors degree in engineering, or equivalent professional experience
Comfort operating with high uncertainty, minimal resources, compressed timelines, and aggressive goals and schedules
Working technical literacy across some combination of autonomy, embedded systems, robotics, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering - enough to lead substantive conversations with engineers without being the deepest expert in the room
Strong organizational instincts and a bias toward action in ambiguous, low-process environments
Physical Demands
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Occasional standing and walking within the office, lab, and prototype spaces.

Experience supporting prototype hardware development, field testing, or Government demonstrations is strongly preferred
Familiarity with defense acquisition, export controls, or classified program management is a plus

Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company's success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Offer focused technical input during design reviews and prototype check-ins - enough to challenge assumptions, unblock the team, and translate progress to non-engineering stakeholders
Represent Special Programs internally to functions such as Growth, Finance, and Engineering, and externally as needed to suppliers and Government or commercial customers.
We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status

This listing is sourced directly from Saronic's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.