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Engineering Program Manager Jobs in Irvine, CA (NOW HIRING)

What You Have * 4-7 years as a Technical Program Manager or equivalent, supporting AI/ML or data-driven engineering teams. * Experience across the AI/ML lifecycle -- data collection and labeling ...

Engineering Program Manager- ML

Irvine, CA · On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

What You Have * 4-7 years as a Technical Program Manager or equivalent, supporting AI/ML or data-driven engineering teams. * Experience across the AI/ML lifecycle - data collection and labeling ...

Flood Risk Engineering Program Manager

Irvine, CA · On-site

$138K/yr

We are seeking a Flood Risk Engineering Program Manager for our Flood Risk Team with Federal, State, and Local flood risk management engineering and project design expertise. This role will take the ...

Irvine 16450 Scientific Way Irvine, CA 92618, USA The Program Manager II - Engineering designs and delivers custom, specific System-on-Modules (SOMs) and Single Board Computers (SBCs). These complex ...

ABOUT THE TEAM Anduril is seeking a Project Manager to join the Omen Program Management Team within ... Develop a deep understanding of our engineering, manufacturing, and test tracking systems (JIRA ...

Staff Program Manager

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$138K/yr

We are seeking a Technical Program Manage r to lead the end-to-end technical delivery of our ... Systems and engineering mindset - the ability to understand and assess technical concept.

Program Manager

San Clemente, CA · On-site

$140K - $165K/yr

Description Swift Engineering Inc www.swiftengineering.com is uniquely positioned in the ... Program Manager is responsible for managing customer relations typically by executing projects in a ...

About Us HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm ... About this Role A Program Manager at HBK Engineering leads, supports, and directs teams consisting ...

Program Manager

Ontario, CA · On-site

$135K/yr

About Us HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm ... About this Role A Program Manager at HBK Engineering leads, supports, and directs teams consisting ...

Staff Program Manager

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $253K/yr

We are seeking a Technical Program Manage r to lead the end-to-end technical delivery of our ... Systems and engineering mindset - the ability to understand and assess technical concept.

Technical Program Manager

Irvine, CA · On-site

$138K - $179K/yr

Working across product, engineering, sales, logistics, operations, and mission success, the Air ... As a Software Technical Program Manager on the Air Defense Engineering Team you'll own efforts to ...

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Engineering Program Manager information

See Irvine, CA salary details

$90.2K

$135.9K

$140.6K

How much do engineering program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering program manager in Irvine, CA is $135,890.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $138,500.00 and $138,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an engineering program manager do?

An Engineering Program Manager oversees and coordinates engineering projects from conception to completion. They are responsible for planning project timelines, allocating resources, managing budgets, and ensuring that project deliverables meet quality standards. Engineering Program Managers serve as a bridge between engineering teams and other departments, helping to communicate goals, track progress, and resolve any obstacles that arise. Their role is critical in ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope while meeting technical and business objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an engineering program manager?

To thrive as an Engineering Program Manager, you need a strong background in engineering principles, project management experience, and typically a relevant degree such as in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools like Jira, Microsoft Project, and certifications such as PMP or Agile methodologies are often required. Outstanding communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills set top performers apart in this role. These abilities are crucial for effectively coordinating cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and delivering successful engineering outcomes on time and within budget.

How does an engineering program manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project's lifecycle?

Engineering Program Managers serve as a central point of coordination, working closely with engineers, product managers, designers, and quality assurance teams to ensure project milestones are met. They facilitate regular meetings, track progress, address roadblocks, and communicate updates to all stakeholders. This collaborative approach helps align technical objectives with business goals and ensures everyone is moving in the same direction. Strong communication and organizational skills are critical for managing these cross-functional relationships effectively.

What is the difference between Engineering Program Manager vs Product Manager?

AspectEngineering Program ManagerProduct Manager
Primary FocusManaging engineering projects, timelines, and technical teamsDefining product vision, features, and user experience
Required SkillsTechnical knowledge, project management, cross-team coordinationMarket research, user empathy, strategic planning
Work EnvironmentEngineering teams, technical stakeholdersDesign, marketing, customer feedback teams
Common UsageTech companies, engineering departmentsProduct development, tech and consumer companies

While both roles involve cross-functional collaboration, Engineering Program Managers focus on technical project execution and engineering processes, whereas Product Managers concentrate on product strategy and customer needs. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or hiring the appropriate role for project success.

What are popular job titles related to Engineering Program Manager jobs in Irvine, CA?

For Engineering Program Manager jobs in Irvine, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Engineering Program Manager jobs in Irvine, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Engineering Program Manager jobs in Irvine, CA are:

What cities near Irvine, CA are hiring for Engineering Program Manager jobs?

Cities near Irvine, CA with the most Engineering Program Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Engineering Program Manager job openings in Irvine, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, 12% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,890 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Engineering Program Manager- ML

Irvine, CA

$180K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

About the Role

Our Perception & AI/ML organization runs several research and engineering programs at once, and they converge on the same robots in the same customer deployments. Priorities shift — that is the nature of the work — and when they do, someone needs to know what the shift costs, who it affects, and what we tell the customer.

That is this role. You will be the connective layer between what customers need, what the company has committed to, and what the research and engineering teams are actually building. You will report directly to the VP leading Perception & AI/ML and work closely with the broader leadership team.

This is not a process-administration job. You will be expected to hold an accurate picture of a large, fast-moving technical organization, form your own view of what is at risk, and say so early — including when that is unwelcome.


What You'll Do
  • Own the program-level picture across concurrent research and engineering workstreams: what is in flight, who owns it, what is due, and what is slipping.

  • Translate customer and product requirements into prioritized internal work, and keep delivery timelines honest against what has been committed externally.

  • Serve as a program-level point of contact for customer deployments — carrying their needs inward, and carrying status, tradeoffs, and timelines back out.

  • Surface risks and blockers before they become schedule problems, and drive them to resolution across teams.

  • Run the re-prioritization conversations when commitments change: what continues, what pauses, what gets reassigned, and who needs to hear about it.

  • Build reporting and tracking that engineers will actually maintain — enough signal to steer by, light enough to survive a fast quarter.

  • Partner with senior technical leads and the leadership team without directing the technical approach.

What You Have
  • 4–7 years as a Technical Program Manager or equivalent, supporting AI/ML or data-driven engineering teams.

  • Experience across the AI/ML lifecycle — data collection and labeling, model training, evaluation, and deployment.

  • Experience working directly with customers or external stakeholders, turning their needs into internal priorities and timelines.

  • A demonstrated track record of bringing structure to ambiguous, fast-moving technical programs.

  • Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, or related), or equivalent practical experience.

What Sets You Apart
  • Experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, drones, embedded systems, or another autonomy domain.

  • Experience supporting AI/ML programs at scale inside a larger technology organization — recommendations, ranking, ads, or consumer AI.

  • Background in data operations, data security, or systems integration.

  • Experience supporting field operations or production customer deployments.

  • Comfort acting as a trusted technical point of contact for customers in mission-critical deployments.

  • Fluency with Notion, Slack, and Google Workspace — and the judgment to keep tooling minimal.

  • PMP, Certified Scrum Master, or equivalent Agile certification.

  • Startup or high-growth experience, with a strong bias toward ownership and urgency.

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.
Why Join FieldAI in Irvine?
In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use.
You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.
 
Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution
We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.
 
Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.
 
We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.