Senior Staff Product and Program Manager

Aurora; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 197,000 - 316,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora is hiring a Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to join the Software & Program Management team focusing on hardware/software integration and new vehicle bring-up programs. This role partners with software, firmware, hardware engineering, and operations to bring on-board software from conception to on-road deployment.

You will lead engineering plans, drive cross-functional planning, and help unblock execution while balancing priorities across sites and external partners.

Qualifications

• Travel up to 25% domestically and to Europe as needed to collaborate with hardware partners and cross-functional teams.
• Minimum of 7 years experience as TPM, PM, or Engineering Manager in autonomous systems, robotics, embedded systems, or software.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, Math, Information Systems or equivalent experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to tailor messaging to the audience.
• Solid technical aptitude; ability to read designs, SDLC, risks and work with engineers.
• Extensive project management experience with Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Ability to work in an office at least 3 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Partner with software and firmware leaders to plan and deliver software for hardware/software integration programs.
• Serve as a go-to source for program status and executive reviews.
• Develop detailed engineering plans for bringing up software to enable new hardware platforms, from conception to on-road.
• Collaborate with hardware and software PMs to align on product roadmaps and upcoming hardware programs.
• Work with Hardware Product and Engineering to inform future software requirements and feasibility.
• Coordinate with Vehicle Operations to bring up, test, and deploy new hardware platforms.
• Gather feedback from operations and reliability teams to improve product capabilities and processes.
• Identify obstacles and balance priorities to maintain momentum; escalate when needed.
• Engage with industry hardware partners to plan and deliver components of the Aurora Driver Kit.

Skills

Technical Program Management

Engineering Management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Project planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS/Math/IS or equivalent

Job description

Who We Are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

What We Are Looking For

At Aurora, our next generation hardware/software platform will enable scaling to tens of thousands of driverless trucks. We’re searching for a Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to join Aurora’s Software & Program Management team focusing on hardware/software integration and new vehicle bring-up programs. This role will partner closely with our software and embedded firmware organizations to bring together the on-board software required to bring our new hardware programs to life. This role will also partner deeply with teams outside of Software including various parts of our Hardware Engineering and Operations teams.

In this role, you will

• Partner tightly with software and firmware engineering leaders to drive successful planning and delivery of software for hardware/software integration programs.
• Serve as a go-to resource for information and up-to-date status for relevant programs including facilitating regular executive program reviews.
• Develop detailed credible engineering plans for bringing up software to enable new hardware platforms, from conception to on-road.
• Partner with other TPMs and Product Managers (across hardware and software) to understand the company product roadmap and upcoming hardware programs requiring software support.
• Partner closely with Hardware Product and Engineering teams to inform future hardware architecture from the lens of software requirements and feasibility.
• Engage Vehicle Operations teams across all sites to help facilitate initial bring-up, testing, and eventually deployment of new hardware platforms.
• Be a conduit for feedback from first-line operations and reliability engineers to improve product capabilities and development processes.
• Help evolve and streamline approaches and processes for bringing up new hardware platforms in conjunction with the hardware, software, and operations teams.
• Proactively identify and remove obstacles to unblock team execution and balance competing priorities, escalating when necessary to maintain momentum and clear roadblocks.
• Work deeply with our industry hardware partners to plan, develop, and deliver critical components of our Aurora Driver Kit.

Required Qualifications

• This role requires up to 25% travel in the US and to Europe as needed to collaborate with our hardware partners and other cross-functional teams.
• Minimum of 7 years experience as a Technical Program Manager, Product Manager, or Engineering Manager, in an autonomous systems, robotics, embedded systems, or software development environment. A familiarity with automotive platforms, autonomous vehicles, or safety critical software development is beneficial.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Information Systems or a related area, or the equivalent in experience with evidence of exceptional ability preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adjust communication based on audience.
• Solid technical aptitude and an ability to understand technical designs, software development lifecycle, challenges and risks; ability to work closely with engineers.
• Strong experience in project management; practical familiarity with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies and ability to apply them where best suited.
• Ability to work in one of our offices at least 3 days per week.

For roles based in Mountain View, CA and San Francisco, CA: The salary range for this position is $197,000 - $316,000 per year.

For roles based in Pittsburgh, PA: The salary range for this position is $178,000 - $285,000 per year.

Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

Working at Aurora

At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.

We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.

Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.

Our commitment to safety

At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.

Our commitment to inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.