Fluidstack

Technical Program Manager Lead, R&D

Fluidstack · Austin, TX
Austin, TX $199K–$235K Posted 2026-07-17
Salary
$199K–$235K
Type
Full-time
Experience
5+ yr

ABOUT FLUIDSTACK

We exist to make humanity more free. For most of human history, you farmed or you starved. Technology gave people more time for the things they wanted to do, instead of things they had to do. Powerful AI will be the biggest lever for human choice we've ever built - but only if models are aligned with what humanity actually wants. There are groups building AI who don't share these goals. Whoever deploys frontier compute infrastructure fastest will decide whether AI expands human freedom or shrinks it.

We're singularly focused on delivering 10 to 100s of GWs of compute faster than anyone else, rethinking every layer of the stack. We acquire power, design and build data centers, and operate them - with teams spanning hardware and software. Speed and scale are our key differentiators. Come be a part of building civilization-scale infrastructure for AI.

We hire people who care deeply about this problem space. If that is you, please apply!

HOW WE OPERATE

  • Extreme ownership. Full autonomy. Own things end to end often taking on scope outside your core role without being asked to get things done.
  • Velocity. We drive everything forward as fast as possible.
  • First principles. Challenge every assumption. Zero analogy thinking, no egos, the best idea wins.
  • Love of the game. The frontier of AI is the most interesting problem of our time. We put in long hours at high intensity to push the frontier forward.

THE R&D TEAM

Examples of key problems the team is working on

  • Turn modular and behind-the-meter designs into buildable, ordered, and scheduled reality across mechanical, electrical, controls, and modelling workstreams.
  • Redesign every data center system as a pre-engineered, shippable module that leaves the factory ready for UL listing and multi-state AHJ approval.
  • Develop and scale first-of-a-kind modular data centers that compress a gigawatt build from years of site trades into a factory schedule.
  • Prove out behind-the-meter power and the next generation of cooling and electrical distribution for multi-GW campuses.

ROLE SCOPE

  • Run the R&D program portfolio that turns modular and behind-the-meter designs into buildable, ordered, and scheduled reality across mechanical, electrical, controls, and modelling workstreams.
  • Hold one integrated view of the dependencies, decisions, and dates where workstreams share the same engineers and deadlines, and keep it current as designs change.
  • Run the operating rhythm of design reviews, decision logs, and escalations that keeps every workstream aligned and surfaces slips weeks before they hit the schedule.
  • Produce the honest one-pager on where every R&D program stands, so leadership sees real status and open decisions without chasing them.
  • Keep program artifacts as the single source of truth engineers actually run off of, so every program works from one current plan instead of scattered threads.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The below is a starting point. We always make space for exceptional people, so if you don't fit this role exactly, tell us where you would https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/fluidstack/05c2e69c-42f9-4fcb-9cf0-a467aaf98f1c.

  • You've run TPM or program management for hardware, infrastructure, or capital programs, and you still go hands-on when a program is stuck.
  • You've run portfolios where workstreams shared the same engineers and deadlines, and held one integrated view of dependencies and dates across them.
  • You surface the slip weeks early with the recovery options already attached, not after the date has moved.
  • Your program artifacts are the source of truth teams run off of, not decks that go stale the week after you build them.
  • You write and speak clearly enough to distill a tangled cross-workstream issue into a decision and a next step for an engineer or an executive.
  • Bonus: Data center or energy programs. NPI frameworks. Modular or productized hardware. Schedule risk analysis.

We are committed to pay equity and transparency.

Fluidstack is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Fluidstack will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.

You will receive a confirmation email once your application has successfully been accepted. If there is an error with your submission and you did not receive a confirmation email, please email [email protected] with your resume/CV, the role you've applied for, and the date you submitted your application-- someone from our recruiting team will be in touch.

$60K — 10th pctl $230K — 90th pctl
This role’s midpoint $217K vs. market median $125K for Operations roles
+75%
above median
Based on 18,000+ Operations roles with disclosed salary ranges tracked on NewJob.
FluidStack

FluidStack

Talent Platform · Series A · San Francisco, United States

Stage & Valuation
Series A
Key Investors
['Accel Partners', 'Sequoia Capital', 'Lightspeed Venture Partners']
Open roles on NewJob
Most hiring in
Engineering (39) · Operations (26) · BizOps (12)
FluidStack is a tech-focused job platform that connects developers with leading tech companies through smart matching. It provides transparent compensation insights and streamlined hiring workflows to accelerate talent acquisition.
Talent Platform Hiring Tech Cloud Recruitment Software Hiring
O
Director of Energy and Utilities
Austin, TX
Operations
$329K–$428K
O
Director, Hardware Sourcing & Supply Chain
New York, NY
Operations
$314K–$425K
O
Director Strategic Transactions
New York, NY
Operations
$355K–$420K
See all 370+ roles at Fluidstack →
A
Technical Program Manager
Abnormal AI Remote (US) Remote
Operations
$110K–$159K
A
Staff Technical Program Manager
Affirm Remote (Canada) Remote
Operations
$153K–$213K
A
Principal Technical Program Manager
Agility Robotics Fremont, CA Hybrid
Operations
$243K–$316K
A
Technical Program Manager
Agtonomy South San Francisco, CA
Operations
$130K–$190K
See all Operations roles →

Interested in this role?

Apply directly on the company site — no recruiter middleman, no account required.

Apply now →
Apply on company site