Head of Program Management Office

We’re looking for a Head of Program Management Office to lead and further develop our program management capability at our Helsinki headquarters. You’ll own the delivery of the product programs that turn frontier technology into dependable products in the hands of our customers.

You’ll join as multiple product programs advance towards volume production in Q1 2027, leading their execution through industrialisation, launch, and customer delivery. These are mission-critical products designed for environments where performance, quality, and reliability truly matter.

WHY DISTANCE?

At Distance Technologies, the problem we're solving is simple to state and hard to solve: the amount of data in the world is endless, but human capacity is not. We are building a fundamentally new perception layer between humans and machines, transforming transparent surfaces into interfaces unlike the world has ever seen. Think of the windscreen of a car, the visor of a helmet, or a sight device, each becoming a new front-end for AI. The way we turn bits and atoms into expanded human perception is protected by over 50 granted international patent families. We build it for two demanding worlds: defense and automotive. And we build it from a single foundation fusing software, hardware and computational optics.

There are 50 of us today, with decade-long experience building world’s best products, optics, and open-source operating systems. We partner and build with globally leading companies like KIA, General Dynamics, Supacat, and Galvion, and we were Google Ventures' first investment in Finland. What we're building is hard, and will fundamentally change how we operate and see the world, and that's exactly why we seek exceptional people who enjoy building things never seen before.

THE ROLE

You’ll lead the delivery of our key product programs—on schedule, to the required quality, and through industrialisation, market launch, and customer delivery. Building on the strong foundations already in place, you’ll further develop our program and project management capability, strengthen the operating rhythm, and help our processes mature as the company scales.

You’ll initially lead a team of two program managers and two project managers, providing clear direction, developing their capabilities, and creating the conditions for consistent execution across the portfolio. You’ll also take direct responsibility for selected medium-sized projects that advance the state of the art and mature new capabilities ahead of their transition into formal product programs. The team and responsibilities will be growing significantly in the upcoming months and years.

With established quality processes and ISO 9001 certification in place, you’ll have the opportunity to refine and shape how we work as our products and organisation mature.

The programs span our defence product portfolio, including helmet-mounted head-up displays and vehicle and windscreen HUDs. These products share a common computational-optics platform and are developed in close collaboration with partners in Finland, the UK, and other markets. You’ll guide programs through the later stages of product development and industrialisation, from field trials and pilot builds through certification, production readiness, and series production.

Working closely with supply chain management, you’ll lead key relationships with supply chain and manufacturing partners. You’ll ensure delivery and quality expectations are met, navigate commercial negotiations, manage program risks, and protect Distance’s interests while building productive, long-term partnerships.

This is a highly cross-functional leadership role at the intersection of hardware, software, manufacturing, quality, and commercial delivery. You’ll work closely with our software organisation and other functional leaders to align priorities, manage dependencies, and turn strategy into disciplined execution. You’ll be a member of the leadership team and report directly to the CEO.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• Play a key role in scaling Distance’s product program organisation.

• Bring world-leading, no-compromise defence products into series production and into the hands of customers.

• Work with advanced defence and consumer-electronics technologies at the intersection of hardware and software.

• Join the leadership team and help shape the company’s direction and growth.

• Work alongside an ambitious, highly capable international team.

• Make a visible impact on how complex, multidisciplinary product programs are delivered.

• Receive compensation reflecting your experience, including meaningful equity.

• Work at the highest level on frontier technologies, turning ambitious ideas into dependable products built to perform in the realities of the battlefield.

OUR EXPECTATIONS

We’re looking for a seasoned program leader who can bring clarity and disciplined execution to a fast-moving environment. You’ll need the judgement to understand what is really happening across complex programs—and the confidence to steer decisively, challenge constructively, and negotiate firmly on Distance’s behalf.

• Senior-level experience in product delivery and program management, gained in established, scaled organisations

• A strong track record of bringing complex physical products to market

• Experience leading and developing program and project management professionals

• International experience working across teams, partners, and markets

• Experience managing and negotiating with contract manufacturers and supply chain partners

• The seniority and situational awareness to identify underlying issues, navigate ambiguity, and drive decisions across organisational boundaries.

• Readiness to travel

• Experience in defence, consumer electronics, or another complex hardware-and-software product environment

DID WE GET YOU INTERESTED?

Apply via the application form at the latest on September 20th, 2026. Our recruitment process for this position includes 3-4 discussions with the team. If you want to learn more about the position, reach out to our recruiter, Joel Kinnunen, at [email protected]. Kindly note that, for data privacy reasons, we are not able to process applications sent via email.