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Technical Project Manager (Part-time)

Gradient

Gradient

IT, Operations
San Francisco, CA, USA
USD 90-105 / hour + Equity
Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Join us at Gradient, where our purpose is to revolutionize home comfort while championing environmental sustainability. Our mission is to combat the escalating challenge of climate change by redefining how homes are heated and cooled. Today, the environmental impact of heating and cooling systems surpasses that of the entire transportation sector, and without intervention, this trend is set to escalate drastically. At Gradient, we believe that ensuring comfortable living spaces shouldn’t come at the cost of our planet. We envision a future where every individual can enjoy the luxury of a comfortable home without contributing to carbon emissions. Our high-efficiency, low-carbon heat pump is just the beginning of our journey toward fully decarbonizing buildings. By joining Gradient, you’ll be at the forefront of a movement to make sustainable living accessible to all, ensuring healthier communities and a brighter, greener future.

Part-Time - Project Manager

We are looking for a part-time (up to 20 hours per week) leader to manage Technical Project Management for hardware and software product iterations, refinements, and future products across a diverse and highly technical engineering team.

This role is required to be onsite in our San Francisco HQ 3-5 days per week.

The estimated hourly rate for this role is $90 to $105 per hour.

Responsibilities:

  • Manage the development and refinement of Gradient’s current and future products, focusing on hardware and software iterations and improvements.
  • Work with engineers, manufacturing, and leadership to develop and manage project scope, timeline, and budget for product updates and new concepts.
  • Serve as a translator between teams, helping to weigh competing tradeoffs and ultimately guide the team to unite behind critical changes and decisions for product evolution.
  • Develop internal tools to track issues, design history, test results, budget etc., specifically for iteration and refinement cycles.
  • Lead efficient team meetings that highlight changes, blockers, next steps, and action items; take useful meeting notes.
  • Identify areas that need improved resourcing, such as critical risks and tasks with slipping deadlines in the iteration process.
  • Communicate effectively to motivate others to improve productivity, including multi-tasking, being agile and flexible, giving and receiving feedback, solving problems, and taking initiative.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Shared commitment to building world-positive businesses and products, from climate change mitigation to design as a tool for increased human well-being.
  • 5+ years of technical project management in a consumer technology or related industry, with experience managing product iterations and refinements.
  • Experience managing a project through various refinement cycles or from prototype through to production.
  • BS or MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or similar.
  • Exceptional communication skills and organizational abilities.
  • Proven experience working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with people from diverse backgrounds.

Bonus Qualifications

  • Critical Chain Project Management
  • Experience managing outsourced consultants and agencies.
  • Experience seeing a hardware or software product through multiple iteration cycles.
  • Experience managing and mentoring others.
  • PMP or other Program Management Certification.

Benefits

  • Equity
  • Medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance
  • 401k
  • Paid parental leave
  • Professional Development Stipend
  • Commuter benefits
  • Flexible PTO

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive company. We seek to create a culture where everyone can belong because we believe that people do their best work when they can show up every day as their authentic selves. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Gradient is an equal opportunity employer. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.