---
title: 'Technical Program Manager at Quartermaster'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-quartermaster-arlington-mn55sdzt8jmb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-14'
---

# Technical Program Manager at Quartermaster

- **Company:** Quartermaster
- **Location:** Arlington, VA
- **Compensation:** $200k–$225k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster/992189c0-d93e-4e03-be8b-4deab6b54b35

## Job description

## About Us

Quartermaster is building the world's most comprehensive maritime intelligence platform. Our SmartMast™ system transforms commercial and civilian vessels into a persistent, distributed sensing network—combining HD video, AI, radar, RF sensing, and AIS to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness at global scale. With 600+ sensors deployed across 25+ countries and more than 400,000 vessels identified outside of AIS, we are setting a new standard for what ocean surveillance and safety can look like. We are a mission-driven, high-velocity team building dual-use technology for defense agencies, coast guards, and commercial maritime operators.

Job Description Quartermaster is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Technical Program Manager (TPM) to drive execution across complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programs. In this role, you will coordinate efforts across hardware, software, manufacturing, and operations teams to ensure our ruggedized sensing systems are delivered on time, on spec, and ready for deployment. You’ll serve as the connective tissue between technical contributors and strategic milestones—tracking progress, identifying risks, and enabling decision-making at all levels. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments and has a passion for aligning technical work with real-world outcomes.

## Key Responsibilities

- Own end-to-end planning and execution of major product development programs, from concept through production and deployment.
- Define program schedules, milestones, and critical paths across hardware, software, and manufacturing tracks.
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration by running standups, sprint planning, and milestone reviews with engineering and ops teams.
- Identify dependencies, resource needs, and execution risks—proactively escalating and driving resolution.
- Maintain clear, up-to-date program documentation including Gantt charts, issue trackers, and progress dashboards.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) and field rollout planning, ensuring readiness across supply chain, QA, and logistics.
- Act as primary point of contact for internal stakeholders on program status, scope, and decision timelines.
- Coordinate change management, ensuring that scope or requirement shifts are clearly communicated and integrated across teams.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of program processes, tooling, and collaboration practices.
- Help ensure programs align with company OKRs and strategic priorities.

## Qualifications (Preferred)

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
- 5+ years of experience in a technical program or project management role within a hardware, robotics, or embedded systems environment.
- Proven track record managing complex, multi-phase programs with hardware/software integration.
- Strong familiarity with agile, hybrid, and milestone-driven development methodologies.
- Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with the ability to translate between technical and executive audiences.
- Experience with tools like Jira, Confluence, Gantt software, or other collaboration platforms.
- Bonus: background in maritime, aerospace, defense, or field-deployed sensing systems.

Work Environment

- Flexible working hours with occasional deadlines requiring high availability.
- Opportunity to work on innovative projects with a global impact.

## About Quartermaster

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Quartermaster builds a real-time, distributed maritime awareness network by equipping vessels with AI-powered sensor packages (SmartMast) and an analytics platform.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Arlington, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Neil Sobin (CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Maritime intelligence, defense technology, AI/robotics, ocean sensing
- **Target customers**: Governments (navies, coast guards), commercial shipping operators, insurers, and maritime researchers (B2G, B2B)
- **Mission**: “Connect every vessel on the water to create a comprehensive, real-time picture of our oceans, unlocking critical data insights that underpin a prosperous global maritime ecosystem.” [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/about)

## Products & Services
- **SmartMast**: A weather-hardened hardware package (cameras, radios, sensors) mounted on a ship’s mast that continuously collects and relays maritime data. Combined with an AI analytics platform, it provides real-time vessel identification, anomaly detection, and environmental monitoring. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Quartermaster Analytics Platform**: Cloud-based software that ingests SmartMast data and applies computer vision and machine learning to generate actionable intelligence for fleet operators, insurers, and government agencies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: $43 million in Series A funding (announced May 20, 2026) [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Co-led by First Round Capital and Quiet Capital, with participation from TMV, Steel Atlas, BoxGroup, Operator Partners, Shorewind Capital, and David (surname not specified). Key hires from Anduril (Steve Ribaudo as CGO) and Scale AI (Matt Beck as COO). [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/about) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 625% year-over-year to 40 employees (as of mid-2026). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
  - Over 600 ships equipped with SmartMast, covering 10 million square miles of ocean. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
  - Assisted in “over 20 rescues of mariners at sea.” [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
  - Operates in 7 countries (Panama, Colombia, South Korea, UAE, Brazil, Taiwan, United States). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary hardware edge**: SmartMast is far more advanced than the standard AIS (Automatic Identification System), which is opt-in and easily spoofed. Quartermaster’s sensors provide persistent, verified, real-time data that is less susceptible to fraud. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Pro-mariner incentive model**: Rather than selling sensors to fleet operators (a tough sell in a low-margin industry), Quartermaster creates value for mariners (e.g., rescue support, safety data) to encourage voluntary adoption, locking in network effects. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **First-mover in distributed ocean sensing**: No other company has deployed a real-time, AI-powered sensor constellation at this scale, giving Quartermaster a data moat and early relationships with governments and commercial fleets.

## Strategic Focus
- **Engineering hiring**: A large portion of the $43M Series A is earmarked for hiring engineers (RF, software, AI, systems) to accelerate product development. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Fleet expansion**: Continue equipping more vessels with SmartMast, especially in key maritime corridors, to densify the network.
- **New applications**: Developing uses for government intelligence, marine autonomy training data, environmental monitoring, and insurance risk assessment.
- **Global presence**: Scaling operations in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East (already in 7 countries). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)

## Why Work Here
- **High-impact mission**: Directly contribute to ocean safety, security, and sustainability – work that has tangible real-world results (e.g., rescues at sea).
- **Fast-growing startup**: 625% YoY headcount growth; employees have significant ownership and influence over product direction.
- **Engineering culture**: “A single engineer can make a significant impact in relatively short periods of time” because the ocean space is largely untapped. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Remote-friendly**: Some roles (e.g., “Opportunity Hire”) are listed as remote, though the HQ in Arlington, VA likely expects hybrid for core engineering teams. [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
- **Diverse, inclusive environment**: Equal opportunity employer that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply. [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company emphasizes pro-mariner values and a collaborative, mission-driven culture.

## Sources
1. [quartermaster.us/about](https://www.quartermaster.us/about)
2. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
3. [linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
4. [quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster)

## Other roles at Quartermaster

- [Security Engineer, Application Security](https://feeny.ai/job/security-engineer-application-security-quartermaster-united-states-jv69v1vj0h7m) — United States
- [Office Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/office-manager-quartermaster-arlington-xd5zf85jpj3b) — Arlington, VA
- [Associate Human Resources Generalist](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-human-resources-generalist-quartermaster-arlington-m3pqyw5c1qb2) — Arlington, VA
- [Senior Software Engineer / RF Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-rf-systems-quartermaster-arlington-fmg80br2zt9z) — Arlington, VA
- [Technical Program Manager / RF Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-rf-systems-quartermaster-arlington-hsbht8sjs2k8) — Arlington, VA
- [VP of Supply-Fleet Recruitment](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-of-supply-fleet-recruitment-quartermaster-new-york-jx7vs2ppd95y) — New York, NY
- [Contracts Manager, Government Programs](https://feeny.ai/job/contracts-manager-government-programs-quartermaster-arlington-h3x56j223gc0) — Arlington, VA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-quartermaster-arlington-q6xgwr7w4v39) — Arlington, VA
- [Applied Machine Learning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/applied-machine-learning-engineer-quartermaster-arlington-8gxjb58ahjjf) — Arlington, VA
- [Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/recruiter-quartermaster-arlington-3sdcz2zcyhe3) — Arlington, VA