Program director Jobs in Carlsbad, CA

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Program Director (EPD) with a strong software engineering background and proven expertise in managing large-scale, customer-focused engineering initiatives. This role will involve overseeing complex programs that integrate mail-in or send-in lab results (e.g., CLIA-certified labs, analytical test labs, or authenticity verification services) into our product offerings. The ideal candidate has outstanding communication skills, experience with Agile methodologies (including Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe), and proficiency with tools like Jira to plan and track development efforts.

If you have a strong software engineering foundation, excel at aligning diverse teams around complex engineering initiatives, and thrive in a dynamic environment where your ability to balance customer and technical needs is critical, we'd love to hear from you.

Primary Responsibilities :

• Program & Project Leadership
• Own and drive multi-disciplinary engineering projects from concept to delivery, ensuring alignment with business objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—software, hardware, lab operations, and customer success—to create seamless project execution and integration.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, and key deliverables.
• Customer-Facing Initiatives
• Serve as the primary interface between commercial and internal engineering teams for complex mail-in or send-in lab service programs.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable user stories, ensuring clarity of business needs and technical feasibility.
• Manage customer expectations, gather feedback, and incorporate changes into project plans.
• Agile Framework & Process Management
• Implement and optimize Agile best practices (including SAFe) to streamline project delivery, improve cross-team collaboration, and manage dependencies.
• Develop and maintain project management artifacts (e.g., sprint backlogs, burn-down charts) in Jira or equivalent tool.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that teams regularly inspect and adapt processes.
• Lead internal risk management and IT compliance audits (ISO27001, SOC2, NIST SP 800 172).
• Team & Vendor Management
• Manage relationships with internal and external engineering firms for software integrations, custom development, and package implementations.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders to define scope, success criteria, and resource allocations.
• Set clear expectations and performance metrics, ensuring accountability across all contributors.
• Technical Expertise
• Leverage a deep background in software engineering (architecture, development best practices, and modern frameworks) to guide technical decisions and risk assessments.
• Assist in reviewing technical designs, roadmaps, and user stories for feasibility, scalability, and alignment with overall business goals.
• Drive continuous improvement in software development methodologies, code quality, and release processes.

Required Skills / Capabilities :

Our investment in you :

At Iridia, we're proud to offer the following to our employees (and their families as applicable) :

The base salary range for this position is between $170,000 - $175,000 per year. In addition, this position is also eligible to receive a discretionary annual bonus based on company, team and / or individual performance results.

These pay ranges are intended to cover roles based across the United States. An individual's base pay depends on various factors including geographical location and review of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant. Actual compensation will be confirmed in writing at the time of the offer.

Iridia is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. At Iridia, we believe diversity drives innovation and success, and we are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive.