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GrayMatter Robotics is a well-capitalized Physical AI company building Factory SuperIntelligence (FSI) through autonomous robotic systems for manufacturing. The company operates a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model and is currently executing one of its most ambitious builds: a largely autonomous manufacturing facility supporting a major U.S. shipbuilding program, scaling from small components to structures up to 50 feet across within two years.
This Program Manager role is the single point of continuity across this multi-year, defense-scale build-out. You will own end-to-end delivery spanning dozens of new robotic applications, a key external robotics collaborator, and the path to NAVSEA qualification.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own end-to-end delivery of the multi-year manufacturing build-out, including standing up the physical facility (permitting, layout, utilities) through full production qualification
- Coordinate ongoing production operations once qualified to maintain schedule as volume scales
- Sequence work across growing robotic applications (cutting, beveling, grinding, blasting, spraying, inspection, material handling) to ensure clean handoffs between processes
- Coordinate design and scheduling decisions between GMR engineering teams and external robotics collaborator to keep interdependent workstreams aligned
- Own the qualification roadmap with NAVSEA, translating federal requirements into a sequenced plan for robotic process approval
- Report program status, risk, and milestones to senior leadership on both customer and GMR sides, including executive and government stakeholders
- Identify program risk early and resolve cross-functional bottlenecks before they affect schedule, cost, or qualification timelines
- Build and maintain the single source of truth for program requirements, milestones, and inter-company handoffs
- Use AI-native tools to track program status, surface risk, and keep documentation current across the multi-site build
- Travel to customer and program sites as needed, up to 25% of the time
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering field, or equivalent professional engineering experience
- 10+ years of experience in program or project management within complex, highly regulated engineering environments (aerospace, automotive, maritime, or defense)
- Demonstrated experience standing up new production capability, not just managing existing lines
- Proven track record managing executive-level and cross-organizational stakeholder relationships
- Ability to operate with significant ambiguity and evolving scope, turning ambiguity into clear, sequenced plans
- Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across multiple teams
- Willingness to work in fast-paced environment with quickly changing priorities
- Willingness to travel to customer sites as required
- Must meet U.S. export control requirements and maintain work authorization throughout employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in maritime, shipbuilding, or naval engineering environments
- Experience navigating NAVSEA or other federal qualification and compliance processes
- Prior military engineering leadership experience (service academy commissioning followed by private-industry experience)
- Demonstrated use of AI tools to automate workflows, analyze data, or accelerate program reporting
