Senior Technical Program & Delivery Manager
About the role
This is a rare opportunity for a US-based Senior Technical Program & Delivery Manager to lead the delivery of quantum computing programs across a network of industrial, academic, and government partners. As Riverlane's first PMO hire in the US, you will be building the USA function from the ground up, with significant autonomy and genuine input into how we grow our US presence.
Reporting into the Head of PMO (based in the UK), this role sits at the interface of research, engineering, and external partnerships, coordinating complex technical programs involving quantum hardware, software, and experimental infrastructure. Working in an agile environment, you will use tools such as Jira and Confluence to support structured planning and effective collaboration.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end delivery of Riverlane's most strategically important quantum computing programs, spanning QEC, hardware, software, and experimental infrastructure, working directly with external and internal senior leaders, government agencies, national research laboratories, and hardware partners
- Define milestones, structure, and success metrics, and own execution and program outcomes
- Manage risks, budgets, and dependencies across scope, schedule, quality, and critical path
- Cook up programs across national labs, universities, and industry partners, including quantum hardware providers and agencies such as DARPA
- Represent programs in external reviews and forums, and lead multi-institution programs involving partners and agencies
- Translate scientific objectives into execution plans and clear technical reporting
- Support grant submissions, tracking, and funding strategy
- Work closely with Riverlane's leadership team to shape program priorities, partnerships, and the growth of our US operations
- Establish reporting structures and improve program and project management practices and tools
Requirements
- We are looking for someone with the potential to grow into parts of this role and do not expect candidates to have done all of these things before.
- Experience delivering complex technical hardware and software programs in deep tech or research environments, as well as for US government programs
- Exposure to US government-funded programs required
- Experience working with external partners
- Strong cross-functional leadership
- Strong English communication skills (written and verbal)
- Strong technical writing: you can turn a conversation with a scientist or engineer into a report a partner can assess
- Degree in a technical discipline, or equivalent experience working in advanced technology environments
- Comfortable working closely with scientists and engineers: you can ask good questions and understand the answers
- Proficiency with Jira and Confluence, delivering through both agile and hybrid waterfall approaches
- A working style that earns trust with technical teams: low ego, direct, and curious
- Comfortable working independently in a distributed environment, with the confidence to make decisions and drive forward without close local management or PMO peer support
- The ambition and capability to build and manage a team of project managers, with prior experience leading or mentoring others an advantage
Qualifications
- Able to pass a USA Gov Clearance if required
Skills
- Quantum experience is a nice to have but not required for this opportunity
Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package that includes an annual bonus plan, private medical insurance, life insurance and 401K contributions
Equity, so that our team can share in the long-term success of Riverlane
Generous paid time off, and enhanced family leave
A diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and math)
A learning environment that encourages individual, team and company growth and learning, including training and conference budgets