Saronic Technologies · 7 hours ago
Director of Program Operations
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expSaronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. The Director of Program Operations will build, scale, and operate systems and processes to ensure reliable execution across Saronic’s Autonomous Surface Vessel programs, while leading a team and collaborating with various stakeholders to stabilize operations and drive decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)ManufacturingMarine TechnologyMilitarySecurity
Responsibilities
Own and lead the Program Operations function, defining how programs are stood up, governed, tracked, and supported across Saronic
Establish scalable operating models that support increasing program count, customer complexity, and delivery tempo
Define clear process and decision ownership between Program Operations, Program Management, and Technical Program Management
Serve as the senior escalation point for cross-functional execution issues that impact multiple programs or customers
Design, implement, and maintain program management processes, workflows, templates, and governance standards
Lead enterprise initiatives to improve visibility into cost, schedule, risk, staffing, and customer commitments
Own program operations tooling and reporting strategy in partnership with Finance and internal software development teams
Ensure program processes support both government and commercial execution models without unnecessary overhead
Act as on-demand surge capacity for high-priority internal and customer-facing needs, including program stand-up, recovery, and executive support
Embed directly within programs when execution risk emerges to stabilize operations, align stakeholders, and drive decisions
Lead special projects and time-sensitive initiatives on behalf of the VP of Programs and executive leadership
Absorb ambiguity and shifting priorities to protect program teams and leadership bandwidth
Serve as connective tissue across Engineering, Software, Operations, Production, Quality, Finance, and Mission teams
Resolve execution friction by clarifying ownership, sequencing, and accountability across functions
Support Program Directors and TPM leaders with operational structure, planning, and executive-ready inputs
Support and, when required, lead customer-facing engagements that demand senior operational credibility
Prepare leadership for executive-level reviews, demonstrations, and external engagements
Ensure customer commitments are clearly defined, operationally achievable, and consistently tracked
Support rapid response to emergent customer requests and mission-driven priorities
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Business, Program Management, or a related technical/national security field (MBA Preferred)
10+ years of experience in program operations, program management, or operational leadership roles
Demonstrated experience building scalable processes in a growing organization
Proven ability to operate effectively under ambiguity, urgency, and competing priorities
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interface confidently with technical and non-technical audiences
Preferred
Experience managing complex programs in the national security, security cooperation, defense, or VC/startup space
Familiarity with DOD program execution and challenging customer dynamics
Experience standing up, scaling, or recovering programs in high-growth environments
Familiarity with enterprise tools such as Salesforce, Palantir Foundry, or equivalent systems
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with a strong growth mandate
Benefits
Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services. Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents.
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care. Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents.
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays.
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents.
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses.
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match.
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success.
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline.
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office.
Company
Saronic Technologies
Saronic is building cutting-edge unmanned surface vehicles that enable maritime security and domain awareness by combining best-in-class hardware, software and artificial intelligence into one scalable, fully integrated platform.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$845.5MKey Investors
Elad GilAndreessen HorowitzCaffeinated Capital
2025-02-18Series C· $600M
2024-07-19Series B· $175.5M
2023-10-09Series A· $55M
Leadership Team
Rob Lehman
Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer
Vibhav Altekar
Co-Founder & CTO
Recent News
2025-12-15
Company data provided by crunchbase