Senior TPM — Cross-Functional AI & Hardware Programs

Scale AI; California (MO); On-site; USD 181,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

comprehensive health

dental and vision coverage

retirement benefits

a learning and development stipend

generous PTO

commuter stipend

Job summary

Scale AI is seeking a seasoned Technical Program Manager to bridge Engineering and Operations on the Physical AI team. You will own end-to-end programs, drive cross-functional alignment among Engineering, Operations, Solutions, and Product, and ensure on-time delivery in a fast-moving environment.

You'll thrive in ambiguity, translate technical constraints into actionable plans, and lead sprint planning, hardware release schedules, and data audits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a TPM, Product Manager, or Lead Engineer managing complex, deeply technical programs.
• Cross-Functional Mastery: Demonstrated success managing programs that span both engineering / R&D and operational environments.
• Problem Solving: Exceptional ability to navigate ambiguity, build structure out of chaos, and influence senior stakeholders without formal authority.
• Technical Literacy: Strong technical foundation allowing you to actively participate in architecture reviews and credibly challenge/evaluate technical trade-offs with both HW and SW engineers.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Program Leadership: Serve as the primary driver of alignment between all major stakeholder groups (Engineering, Operations, Solutions, Product, GTM, etc.), ensuring shared milestones, OKRs, and clear ownership.
• Program Lifecycle Management: End-to-end ownership of complex programs. Define program scope, build comprehensive schedules, manage dependencies, and aggressively mitigate risks to ensure on-time delivery.
• Communication & Visibility: Establish a single source of truth for program status. Author clear program documentation, maintain schedules, and provide regular, high-impact updates to executive leadership.
• Navigating Ambiguity & Pathfinding: Thrive in a highly fluid, rapidly evolving environment. As the first cross-functional TPM in this space, you will frequently face ill-defined problems, shifting priorities, and missing processes. You are expected to proactively chart a path forward, make sound decisions with incomplete data, and establish structure where none exists.
• Tactical Execution & Grit: Operate with a deep, hands‑on approach. You are not just a high-level coordinator; you are willing to roll up your sleeves and dive into the details—whether that means managing hardware release schedules, running sprint planning meetings, or manually auditing data to solve a critical issue.
• Process Establishment: Design and implement scalable frameworks, tools, and communication cadences to optimize how our Eng and Ops teams collaborate.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Technical literacy

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related technical field

Job description

Scale AI is seeking a seasoned Technical Program Manager to bridge Engineering and Operations on the Physical AI team. You will own end-to-end programs, drive cross-functional alignment among Engineering, Operations, Solutions, and Product, and ensure on-time delivery in a fast-moving environment.

You'll thrive in ambiguity, translate technical constraints into actionable plans, and lead sprint planning, hardware release schedules, and data audits.