Manager of Technical Program Management

Who we are

The problem: Every minute matters in fire response.  As climate change amplifies the intensity of wildfires—with longer fire seasons, dryer fuels, and faster winds—new ignitions spread faster and put more communities at risk. Today, most wildfires are detected by bystanders and reported via 911, meaning it can take hours to detect a fire, verify its exact location and size, and dispatch first responders. Fire authorities need a faster way to detect, confirm, and pinpoint fires so that they can quickly respond—preventing small flare-ups from becoming devastating infernos. 

About Pano: We are a 100+ person growth-stage hybrid-remote start-up, headquartered in San Francisco.  We are the leader in early wildfire detection and intelligence, helping fire professionals respond to fires faster and more safely—with the right equipment, timely information, and enhanced coordination—so that they can stop a new ignition before it grows.  Pano AI combines advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence into an easy-to-use, web-based platform. Leveraging a network of ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras atop high vantage points, as well as satellite and other data feeds, Pano AI produces a real-time picture of threats in a geographic region and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence. 

Pano AI is on TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025! MIT Technology Review listed Pano as one of the top 15 climate tech companies to watch in 2024, and Fast Company named Pano AI one of the Top 10 most innovative companies in AI of 2023. We’ve also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC News.  Pano AI’s dozens of government and enterprise customers span 16 states in the U.S., five states in Australia, and BC, Canada, and we are currently monitoring over 30 million acres of land. Pano AI has raised $89M in venture capital funding from Giant Ventures, Liberty Mutual Ventures, Tokio Marine Future Fund, Congruent Ventures, Initialized Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and T-Mobile Ventures. Learn more at https://www.pano.ai/.  

The Role 

We are looking for a seasoned Technical Program Management (TPM) to join Pano as our first Manager of TPM. You’ll lead cross-functional program execution across engineering, product, and operations. As a key technical leader, you'll play a pivotal role in helping us scale with precision — balancing speed and quality while driving programs from concept to launch. You will bring clarity to a fast-moving and rapidly evolving startup. Along the way, you’ll establish and iterate on processes, and help teams stay aligned and accountable across competing priorities.

This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, communicates crisply across technical and non-technical stakeholders, and cares deeply about outcomes, not just outputs. You’ll help us think big, plan rigorously, and deliver world-class results — at startup velocity.

What you'll do

• Lead planning and execution for complex, cross-functional technical programs from inception through delivery

• Partner closely with engineering, product management, design, operations, and leadership to define program goals, requirements, and success metrics

• Proactively identify and resolve risks, bottlenecks, and interdependencies across multiple workstreams

• Define and evolve lightweight processes to improve velocity, visibility, and decision-making without sacrificing quality

• Lead program reviews, drive clear documentation, and establish reliable communication rhythms across all stakeholders

• Foster a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement

• Coach and develop TPMs and technical leaders to raise the execution bar across the company

What you'll bring

• 9+ years of experience in technical program management or equivalent roles in fast-paced, product and engineering teams

• 2+ years in a formal people management role, ideally leading TPMs or technical leads

• Proven success in delivering complex, cross-functional programs involving software, hardware, and/or operational systems

• Strong technical fluency — able to understand system architecture, standard operating procedures, databases, and write basic code to automate tasks

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a bias for clarity and alignment

• Experience working in startups or small, high-growth teams with evolving processes and goals

• Demonstrated ability to balance execution speed with quality and long-term thinking

• Humility, empathy, and open-mindedness - no egos.

Nice to have

• Experience in safety-critical systems, public sector, or emergency response technology

• Background in engineering, product management, or systems design

• Deep experience building and scaling TPM practices at early-stage companies

• A passion for climate change adaptation and/or firefighting.

Pano is an equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and supporting our team-members regardless of where they come from. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.