Program Manager, Early Stage Project

Program Manager, Early Stage Project at X, The Moonshot Factory

X is Alphabet’s moonshot factory with a mission of inventing and launching “moonshot” technologies that could someday make the world a radically better place. We are a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world’s most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement.

We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup. As an innovation engine, X focuses on repeatedly turning breakthrough‑technology ideas into the foundations for large, sustainable businesses.

We’re a small, passionate and driven team of experienced ML researchers, software engineers and product managers on a mission to make the practice of law radically more efficient and accurate. Our legal moonshot focuses on de‑risking our technology quickly, refining our prototypes, running experiments with partners and developing a valuable product for our users. Our culture is one of mutual care and respect, individual competence and most of all, fun!

As our Program Manager, you are the heartbeat of our most critical initiatives. You don’t just manage timelines; you build the systems that allow us to scale. You will sit at the center of a complex web of stakeholders:
Product, Engineering, Operations, and Finance. This is a role for a strategic operator who thrives in ambiguity, anticipates risks before they become roadblocks.

• Design frameworks, rituals, and automation tools that eliminate silos between R&D, Marketing, and Operations.
• Remove process friction to shorten the cycle from strategic idea to market reality and protect the critical path.
• Build repeatable playbooks and templates that allow the company to scale project volume without a proportional increase in headcount.
• Lead sophisticated quantitative modeling to translate complex business challenges into actionable executive insights.
• Act as a proxy for the GM when needed, using judgment and discretion to unblock decisions with velocity and represent the organization in cross‑functional and technical forums.
• Proactively identify dependencies and potential failures weeks in advance while using GenAI to optimize deliverable pace.
• Bridge the gap between “why” and “what” to maintain mission alignment and high morale during intense delivery cycles.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a technical field (STEM preferred). Proven experience “in the trenches” is what we value most.
• 6+ years in high‑growth tech, VC, or consulting (or 4 years with an advanced degree) with direct “0‑to‑1” startup experience.
• A “systems‑first” mindset that prioritizes fixing underlying processes over surface‑level symptoms.
• Proven ability to influence C‑suite leaders and technical leads through diplomacy and data‑backed recommendations.
• Expert proficiency in spreadsheets and analysis models to drive decision‑making and project recovery.
• Mastery of modern PM stacks (Jira/Asana) and fluency in AI productivity tools.
• Exceptional skill in distilling complex meetings into clear action plans and polished executive presentations.
• A passion for the legal space and a track record of handling confidential information with total security.

• Fluency across Engineering, Design, and Finance constraints within the software development lifecycle.
• Proficiency in SQL or BI tools (Tableau/Looker) to independently drive data iteration.
• A strong product sensibility, using user needs (‘what’) to inform program strategy (‘how’) and delivery timelines (‘when’).
• Experience successfully course‑correcting high‑stakes projects that faced significant execution challenges.
• Expertise in applying various operational frameworks (OKRs, SCRUM, MECE) based on the specific challenge.

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $147,000 – $210,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

• Seniority level:
  Mid‑Senior
• Employment type:
  
  Full‑time
• Job function:
  Project Management and Information Technology
• Industry: Research