Principal Technical Program Manager, Drone & Autonomy Software

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end execution of device software and autonomy programs, including embedded/firmware, perception, navigation, and controls.
• Drive the weekly release cadence for deployed devices, managing planning, readiness, and OTA rollout coordination.
• Coordinate cross-team release scope and sequencing to ensure clear dependencies between device software and autonomy subsystems.
• Partner with hardware engineering to align software deliverables with new hardware product introductions (EVT/DVT/PVT).
• Lead release readiness reviews, including quality gates, test coverage, performance expectations, and rollback plans.
• Collaborate with QA and flight test teams to validate features across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and real-world flight conditions.
• Establish and improve program management processes, including change control, validation workflows, and incident learnings.
• Provide clear status reporting to engineering leadership, surfacing risks and driving tradeoffs across quality, schedule, and scope.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (CS, EE, CE, Robotics, Aerospace, Systems, or related) or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of technical program management experience delivering embedded/device software or autonomy/robotics software for hardware products.
• Proven track record of coordinating release trains and shipping updates to real-world deployed devices via OTA or staged rollouts.
• Strong technical fluency in embedded systems and autonomy, including firmware/software boundaries and perception/navigation/controls pipelines.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership skills to align engineering, autonomy, QA, hardware, and operations teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with complex, mission-critical hardware/software systems.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux, RTOS, and common device update mechanisms.
• Experience managing hardware/software co-development schedules through production ramp.
• Understanding of CI/CD for embedded software, including automated test infrastructure and simulation pipelines.
• Knowledge of autonomy concepts such as SLAM/VIO, path planning, obstacle avoidance, or flight controls.
• Experience in a high-growth startup environment with a bias for action and comfort with ambiguity.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and families.
• 401K plan.
• Maternity and paternity leave.
• Flexible Time Off (Exempt) / Paid time off (Non-Exempt).
• Free snacks, drinks, and espresso at the Seattle office.
• Orca pass (for those in Puget Sound) and free parking.

About the Company

BRINC is redefining public safety with an innovative ecosystem of life-saving tools. From drones to 911 response networks, our technology provides real-time visual data to help first responders de-escalate situations and save lives. Our solutions are utilized by over 600 public safety agencies across America.