Technical Program Manager — New Product Development (Hardware)
Overview
Lead the development of next-generation autonomous vehicle hardware from early concept and architecture through engineering builds and production ramp. As a Technical Program Manager, you will own end-to-end program execution for complex hardware products, coordinating teams across hardware, software, firmware, functional safety, systems engineering, procurement, and vehicle development.
You will translate strategic objectives into actionable roadmaps, schedules, milestones, and deliverables while partnering closely with internal engineering organizations and external contract manufacturers. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, proactive risk management, clear communication, and the ability to influence outcomes across teams without formal authority.
This is an opportunity to help deliver challenging, highly integrated hardware systems in a fast-moving environment where structured program management and cross-functional collaboration are essential.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience in hardware Technical Program Management or Engineering Program Management.
- Demonstrated end-to-end hardware development experience, taking products from concept through:
- Engineering Validation Test (EVT)
- Design Validation Test (DVT)
- Production Validation Test (PVT)
- Production ramp
- Strong hardware background with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline—or equivalent experience.
- Experience working with outside contract manufacturers through development builds and production ramp.
- Ability to coordinate complex programs across hardware, software, firmware, functional safety, systems engineering, procurement, and vehicle development teams.
- Experience developing program schedules, product roadmaps, milestones, deliverables, and dependency plans.
- Strong risk identification, mitigation, and issue-resolution skills, including the ability to drive actions to closure.
- Ability to communicate program status, accomplishments, issues, and risks clearly and concisely to cross-functional teams and leadership.
- Experience establishing standard program reports and maintaining clear visibility into progress and risks.
- Proficiency with tools used to manage complex programs, such as JIRA and Gantt charts.
- Ability to set agendas and facilitate key decisions that eliminate bottlenecks and minimize program risk.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills.
- Ability to remain flexible and composed while working through rapid development cycles and uncertainty.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable operating across multiple cross-functional teams.
- Ability to influence without formal authority and build strong working relationships with engineering teams, contract manufacturers, and senior leaders.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- End-to-end hardware development experience in the automotive or consumer electronics industry at the system or subsystem level.
- Direct management of two or more complete program development cycles involving hardware and software integration.
- Technical Program Management experience supporting production programs during mass production and post-production sustaining phases.
- Experience incorporating design-for-manufacturing and design-for-test feedback into hardware development.
- Experience supporting cross-functional decisions involving engineering, finance, and strategy.
- Strong references demonstrating the ability to build effective working relationships with senior leaders and engineers across functions and departments.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Six or more years of hardware Technical Program Management or Engineering Program Management experience.
- Experience leading hardware programs through concept, architecture, EVT, DVT, PVT, and production ramp.
- A master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering is a plus.
Other Requirements
- Work arrangement: Onsite.
- Location: Foster City, California.
- Employment type: W2 only.
- Contract duration: 12 months.
- Must be able to partner effectively with external contract manufacturers and cross-functional internal teams throughout hardware development and production ramp.
- Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and taking on a broad range of responsibilities as program needs evolve.
