Back to jobs
New

Staff Technical Program Manager

San Diego

We’re a well-funded start-up. You’ll get a chance to wear many hats, be a part of a growing team, and have the potential for exciting financial and career growth.

Here’s what sets us apart. We’ve set our sights on some of the biggest challenges facing biology today. We’re amassing a world class team of engineers, scientists, team builders and problem solvers to tackle these challenges heads-on. We’re passionate about developing the next generation technologies that will unravel the complexities of biology.

This is a unique opportunity to build, be part of an exciting start-up and be surrounded by good humans who are super capable, humble and down-to- earth.

We're searching for a Staff Technical Program Manager (TPM) to own end-to-end delivery of one or more core development teams working on hardware, software, assay, and systems integration workstreams. You will translate complex technical roadmaps into executable Scrum delivery plans, drive cross-functional alignment, and leverage AI-powered tooling to raise the bar on program transparency, risk management, and team throughput. This deeply technical, highly visible role reports to the SVP of Product Development and is based onsite in San Diego, CA.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Own end-to-end program delivery for one or more core teams—maintaining schedule integrity, driving cross-functional accountability, and ensuring commitments are met across functions and workstreams.
  • Apply domain knowledge of complex analytical instrument development programs—including hardware/software co-development cycles, verification and validation protocols, and design controls—to anticipate risks unique to physical product delivery.
  • Partner to execute Cellanome's formal PDP, including TRL-based stage-gate reviews, phase exit criteria, and artifact delivery.
  • Facilitate alignment sessions across Software, Hardware, Assay, Systems Integration, Computational Biology, Manufacturing, and Consumables to resolve cross-functional blockers.
  • Define and enforce Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD) standards; establish and improve Scrum processes and ceremonies.
  • Drive gate readiness reviews and action tracking; own the risk log and ensure mitigation plans are staffed and on schedule.
  • Coordinate across PDP phases: Concept, Feasibility, Development, Verification & Validation, and Transfer.
  • Build and maintain live program dashboards (Jira/Confluence) providing real-time visibility into schedule, risk, and quality metrics for leadership.
  • Collaborate with Systems Integration to define integration test plans, track system-level issues, and drive resolution before gate reviews.
  • Partner with Manufacturing and Consumables teams to align design-for-manufacturability requirements, consumable readiness milestones, and transfer timelines with the overall program schedule.
  • Understand and apply regulatory considerations (e.g., IVD, ISO 13485, 21 CFR Part 820 awareness) as they apply to instrument development timelines and documentation.
  • Deploy and continuously improve AI tooling.
  • Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of working time away from work location, including overnight/weekend travel at time.

Role Requirements:

  • Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience in life sciences, medtech, or analytical instrumentation with a bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent experience.
  • Strong working knowledge of Scrum and Agile delivery.
  • Expert-level proficiency in Jira (workflow configuration, advanced roadmaps, dashboards) and Confluence (space administration, Macros, templates).
  • Hands-on experience running programs in a formal PDP or stage-gate framework within a hardware-centric product development organization.
  • Proven track record of managing cross-functional analytical instrument or device development programs from concept through V&V.
  • Active and sophisticated use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or integrated LLM plug-ins) to automate program management and scrum workflows.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex technical status into clear executive summaries.
  • Valid passport and driver’s license.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • CSM, SAFe Agilist, PMP, or equivalent certification.
  • Experience with JAMA Connect or similar requirements management platforms (DOORS, Polarion).
  • Familiarity with design controls and regulatory frameworks relevant to IVD or laboratory instruments (ISO 13485, 21 CFR Part 820, IEC 62304).
  • Background in life science instrumentation, analytical chemistry, genomics, or cell biology platforms.

We  provide competitive total compensation packages, including base pay, benefits, and equity. In California, the estimated base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $180,000/year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

What you can expect from us:

You’ll feel the energy when you walk in our door – we work hard, we have fun and we have ambitious plans to grow. Cellanome offers a comprehensive employment package that includes a competitive salary, generous stock options, great individual, and family health plans, a 401(k) and flexibility to balance work and life.

We embrace and celebrate the diversity of our employees. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Cellanome? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Cellanome’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.