Program Manager

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Program Manager able to partner effectively with scientists and engineers across disciplines (e.g., physics, photonics, electrical engineering, materials science, chemistry, computer science, or applied mathematics) to drive the successful completion of complex projects at Photonic.

You will be responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and tracking of technical projects including large scale government programs. This role will interact with multi-disciplinary teams across the organization and at all levels from executives to individual experts.

In this role, you will work with our product, research, development, engineering, operations, and corporate teams to ensure that milestones are clear, met on time and are within budget, while also ensuring the project’s objectives align with the company’s overall strategic goals and government relations.

You have demonstrated experience in managing large, complex, technical projects. You are highly accountable and responsible, driving projects to completion. You enjoy the thrill of new technologies, drawing upon talents from various teams to complete a project, and are a highly detail-oriented individual. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive delivery and be a part of the company's success. Strong leadership attributes and a passion for learning are essential for this role.

Please include a cover letter with your resume (in one file) describing how you would be a great fit at Photonic and what attributes you could bring to our growing team.

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO

• Program Leadership: Own end-to-end delivery of one or more strategic programs (including large-scale government programs where applicable), aligning multiple projects/workstreams, budgets, and timelines to company objectives.
• Portfolio Prioritization & Trade-offs: Partner with leadership to shape portfolio priorities, sequencing, and capacity/budget trade-offs; drive decision forums, scenario planning, and alignment on what to start/stop/continue as constraints or strategy shift.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead senior stakeholder alignment across internal leadership and external entities (agencies, strategic partners, vendors/contractors), ensuring clear governance, decision-making, and accountability.
• Technical Expertise: Ability to use best practice tools such as Jira, PowerBI, Smartsheet, SharePoint, Arena, and AI tools to organize and communicate.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks early, document and develop mitigation strategies to keep timelines and ensure project success.
• Reporting: Prepare and present executive- and stakeholder-ready reporting on program status, progress, risks, and outcomes, including external reporting requirements for partners/agencies as needed.
• Leadership: Mentor and guide project teams, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline (e.g., physics, engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, materials science, chemistry, or similar) or equivalent experience delivering complex, highly technical R&D programs in a deep-tech environment.
• PMP certification (or equivalent program/project management training) an asset.
• Agile delivery experience and certifications such as CSM/PSM, SAFe, and Prosci (or other change management methodologies) are also valued.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in program or project management of R&D projects.
• Outstanding record of organizational, time management and project management success, both in results achieved and in use of professional methodology.
• Experience managing relationships with external partners including strategic partnerships and customer engagements.
• Strong understanding of scientific principles, physics or engineering preferred.
• Demonstrable success planning, monitoring and executing challenging projects.
• Proficiency with a variety of project management software and tools.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US

• Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefinecomputing.
• Enjoy a fast-paced and fun environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day.
• Inclusive company culture that values collaboration.
• Regular social events and fun activities keep our global team connected.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, stock options, and relocation assistance for global talent.
• Comprehensive benefits including extended health, dental, life, long term disability, an employee assistance program, parental leave top-ups, and a flexible spending account.

The base annual salary range for this full-time role is between $140,800 to $193,600. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target range for new hire base salary across all Canadian locations. Actual compensation may vary outside of this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we've described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply! All roles listed are for current vacancies. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.