Technical Program Manager

CINDER; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing and recruiting company is seeking a Technical Program Manager for their AI & Autonomy team in Foster City, CA. This role focuses on developing full-stack autonomous mobility solutions. Responsibilities include translating corporate strategy into detailed road maps, ensuring project execution, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a BS or MS degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of program management experience, particularly in complex engineering projects. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering, program management, or management consulting.
• Deep familiarity with software, hardware, or automotive development processes.
• Strong understanding of firmware development and architecture.

Responsibilities

• Translate corporate strategy into detailed road maps and timelines.
• Ensure engineering teams understand priorities and tools for execution.
• Facilitate decision-making and manage program reporting.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Agile methodologies

Software development processes

Hardware development processes

Strong communication skills

Education

BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

Tools

JIRA

Job description

Location: Foster City, CA / at least 3 days in office

Type: Assignment 6 months with possibility of extension

About Our Client

Our client is a pioneering automotive services organization committed to redefining how people move. With a focus on innovation, quality, and user experience, they collaborate across industries to develop transformative solutions that respond to evolving urban needs.

About the Role

Our client has embarked on a highly ambitious journey to develop a full-stack autonomous mobility solution for their cities. As a Technical Program Manager for the AI & Autonomy team, you will work cross-functionally with other engineering leaders across software, hardware, vehicle engineering, and product to drill-down their corporate strategy into tactical and detailed road maps that facilitate effective execution at each stage of our growth curve. You will work with each engineering team to develop project schedules, identify milestones, flag risks, estimate budgets, and clearly communicate on-going progress.

You will facilitate and support time-sensitive key strategic and tactical decisions by framing the decisions appropriately and ensuring that information is complete and clearly communicated. It is your job to ensure that all engineering groups are coordinated, understand their priorities, and are on-track to deliver on our corporate milestones on time and on budget.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Work with department leaders to translate the top-down corporate strategy and milestones into detailed product road maps, timelines, and deliverables
• Ensure engineering teams understand their priorities and have the tools and organizational frameworks in place to execute at all times
• Define and manage process and regular meetings
• Establish standard reports to provide concise and effective communications to key stakeholders on program status, issues/risks, and accomplishments
• Ensure problems are transparent and risks are identified and proactively ensure that risk mitigating actions are on-going within the engineering teams
• Set the agenda for key decisions to be made at each meeting to eliminate bottlenecks and retire risks
• Drive quarterly planning to ensure team goals meeting company initiatives
• Support key decisions working cross-functionally across engineering, finance, and strategy to reach the right conclusions

About You

Required Qualifications:

• BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or equivalent job experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering, program management, or management consulting
• Deep familiarity with software, hardware, or automotive development processes
• Strong understanding of firmware development and architecture
• Strong track-record in managing complex cross-functional projects
• Strong references that highlight your ability to build strong working relationships with senior leaders and engineers across functions and departments
• Understanding of agile methodologies and experience with JIRA
• An ability to keep the big picture in focus and to provide clear, well-structured, and concise communications tailored to each appropriate audience
• Industry experience with high-assurance / safety critical systems design and development
• Led complex robotics integration projects involving multiple interdependent components across all validation phases, from design through launch; experience in automotive, defense, robotics, or medical devices is a plus.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas.

About Cinder

Cinder is a people-first staffing and recruiting company committed to creating workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and engaged. Our mission is to leverage our power as a recruiting and consulting company to build workplaces where people thrive. Backed by our ISO 9001 certification, we deliver high-quality staffing solutions, and our clients have rated us over 100% for multiple quarters. Join us and be part of a team that makes a real impact!