Research Program Manager

PhysicsX is building AI that transforms how the world’s most complex engineering problems are solved. As the company scales rapidly following our Series B, we’ve built a dedicated Strategy & Programs function whose mission is to ensure we scale gracefully — with clarity, alignment, and discipline.

The team sits at the intersection of strategy and execution. We own the company’s strategic planning process, drive cross-functional programs that upgrade how PhysicsX operates, and serve as the connective tissue that holds a fast-growing organisation together. Learn more about the team here - https://www.physicsx.ai/newsroom/scaling-gracefully-inside-physicsxs-strategy-programs-team

The Research Program Manager works across PhysicsX's most important research initiatives — from foundation model development to methods research — partnering with research leaders to turn ambitious research goals into clear plans and sustainable progress. You will own the operational backbone of our research programmes — planning, milestones, dependencies, and reporting — so that scientists and engineers can stay focused on the science. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Head of Research and technical leads, you will sit at the intersection of Research, Delivery, Product, and external partners, keeping momentum across multiple parallel efforts and connecting the technical work to strategy and business outcomes.

This is a London-based role with 2–3 days per week in our central office.

• Act as a trusted sounding board to research leads on the plans, priorities and decisions that matter most, synthesising, problem-solving and driving solutions forward
• Create clarity and resolve ambiguity, help translate high-level objectives into smaller manageable objectives.
• Own the planning and delivery cadence for research streams — crystalise and maintain roadmaps with clear milestones, owners, and decision points, working closely with research leads and technical partners.
• Run effective operating rhythms and rituals (stand-ups, planning sessions, reviews, and retrospectives) with clear agendas, captured decisions, and tracked follow-ups. Track progress against plans, surface risks and dependencies early, and drive them to resolution before they become blockers.
• Foster collaboration across Delivery, Product, Engineering, and Operations, to align priorities, secure resources, and remove friction for the research team for key streams.
• Act as a translator and bridge between the technical and the strategic direction — maintain a single source of truth for research project status, scope, and reporting, and create clear and concise materials that communicate the work done to internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive strategic research collaborations and partnerships — coordinate timelines, deliverables, and communications with external research partners and customers.
• Support resourcing and capacity planning across concurrent research efforts, balancing near-term delivery with longer-term research objectives.
• Help coordinate research outputs — papers, conference attendance, internal demos — so deadlines and commitments are met. Review or contribute to high-level output where possible to improve messaging (e.g. in blogs).
• Coach individuals through complex challenges and ensure the conditions are in place to enable high-performing teams to produce pioneering work

• 3+ years of experience in program management, strategic operations, or consulting, ideally in a research, R&D, deep-tech environment, or other complex content work.
• Experience partnering with leaders in fast-paced environments, acting as a sounding board and thought partner on important projects, initiatives and decisions.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous settings with shifting context — you bring structure without slowing people down and enjoy environments where you can implement creative and innovative ideas which drive organisational performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; able to develop high-trust relationships and influence without authority, adapting your message for audiences from individual contributors to executives.
• Strong problem-solving skills — the ability to analyse issues, identify root causes, and drive practical solutions quickly.
• Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality output, while keeping in mind the bigger picture and adjusting accordingly.
• Enough technical literacy to engage credibly with researchers and engineers — you can follow technical discussions, understand dependencies, and ask the right questions. A background in a quantitative, scientific, or engineering field is a plus.
• Familiarity with modern project-management and collaboration tooling (e.g. Notion, Linear, GitHub).

• Experience managing research programmes involving machine learning, simulation, or scientific computing.
• Experience coordinating external research partnerships, grants, or academic collaborations.
• Knowledge and experience in utilising coaching techniques to foster high-performance teams
• Exposure to a high-growth, scaling technology company.

Build what actually matters

Help shape an AI-native engineering company at a formative stage, tackling problems that genuinely matter for industry and society. This is work with real-world impact - and something you can be proud to stand behind.

Learn alongside exceptional people

Work with a high-caliber, collaborative team of engineers, scientists, and operators who care deeply about doing great work, and about helping each other get better. We come from diverse backgrounds, but we share a commitment to operating at the highest level and addressing some of the most complex challenges out there. If you’re ambitious, thoughtful, and driven by impact, you’ll feel at home.

Influence over hierarchy

We operate with a flat structure: good ideas win - wherever they come from. Questioning assumptions and challenging the status quo isn’t just welcomed, it’s expected.

Sustainable pace, long-term ambition

Building meaningful technology is a marathon, not a sprint. We believe in balancing focused, ambitious work with a life beyond it. Our hybrid model blends time together in our Shoreditch office with work-from-home days, giving you the flexibility to work sustainably while staying connected in person.

And it doesn’t stop there …

🚀 Equity options - share meaningfully in the company you’re helping to build.

🏦 10% employer pension contribution - because investing in future matters.

🍽️ Free office lunches - to keep you energised and focused.

👶 Enhanced parental leave - 3 months full pay paternity and 6 months full pay maternity leave, to provide extra flexibility during the moments that matter most.

🍼 YellowNest nursery scheme - to help working parents manage childcare costs.

☀️ 25 days of Annual Leave (+ Public Holidays) - because taking time to rest matters.

🏥 Private medical insurance - 100% employee cover, giving you complete peace of mind.

💪 Wellhub Subscription - gain access to thousands of gyms, classes and wellness apps, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.

👀 Eye tests - because good work depends on good health.

📈 Personal development - dedicated support for learning, development, and leveling up over time.

💛 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - confidential wellbeing support, available whenever you need it.

🚲 Bike2Work scheme and 🚆 Season ticket loan - to make getting to work easier and greener.

🚗 Octopus EV salary sacrifice - for a simpler, more sustainable way to drive electric.

🔎 Watch this space, we’re continuing to build this as we grow…