Technical Program Manager

freelance.de GmbH; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 50,971 - 59,236; Full time

Job summary

freelance.de GmbH is seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager for a 6-month contract in Foster City, CA. This hybrid role involves overseeing program management for an ambitious autonomous vehicle initiative, necessitating strong analytical skills and team collaboration.

The successful candidate will engage with technical details, drive process improvements, and work independently. Major qualifications include a relevant technical degree and a passion for advanced technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical or quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or Physics).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Gather and analyze information from various teams to create program management templates.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define and track key program deliverables.
• Identify opportunities for process automation and tooling improvements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field

Tools

Jira

Job description

Client: Autonomous Vehicle/Tech

Title: Technical Program Manager

Job Location: Foster City, CA

Duration: ~6 Months

The pay rate is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by WorkGenius.

Technical Program Manager, PMO - Test Fleet Program (Contract)

Location: Foster City (fully onsite)

The Program Management Office (PMO) at our client is at the center of the company's efforts, responsible for driving cross‑functional program planning and execution at the highest level. We partner with leaders from every corner of the company—vehicle development, software engineering, manufacturing, and operations—to deliver on the ambitious milestones that pave our path to launching a revolutionary autonomous mobility service.

The L3 Program within PMO is responsible for the optimal allocation and usage of the test fleet, operated nationwide, with leading‑edge hardware and software that will be used in future milestones. Our program managers contribute to the end‑to‑end success of all of our client's technical, integrated product milestones on our purpose‑built robotaxi.

We are excited to launch a new initiative to bring exceptional early‑career talent into our PMO team. This is a role for those who have a history of high performance in their academic and project work and are eager to apply their skills to complex, real‑world challenges. While we hire for potential and rate of learning, we are looking for individuals who have demonstrated the ability to perform at a high level, regardless of their years of experience.

As a Technical Program Manager (6‑month contract), you will have concrete, well‑defined projects that will allow you to make a real impact from the start. This role is a unique opportunity to grow into a leader who can run, improve, and expand our program structures. Please note that this is an on‑site role and requires working from the office five days per week.

In this Role, You Will…

• Drive Clarity and Unity: Work independently to gather and analyze information from various teams to create unified program management templates, helping to standardize how we track deliverables across different parts of the company.
• Structure for Success: Collaborate with stakeholders across engineering and product to define, structure, and track key program deliverables, ensuring that our most critical initiatives are aligned and on track.
• Improve Our Processes: Identify opportunities for process automation and tooling improvements. You’ll have the chance to build better dashboards and tools that enhance program reporting and efficiency.
• Dive Deep into the Details: Engage with the technical details of our programs, participating in the review process for project‑level deliverables to ensure they meet our strategic intent.
• Communicate and Collaborate: Develop strong relationships with a wide range of teams, learning how to communicate effectively and drive progress in a highly cross‑functional environment.

Requirements

• Deep Passion for a Technical Subject: We love to see candidates who go deep into a topic they are passionate about, whether it's a school project, a personal hobby, or a side hustle. We want to hear you get into the details of what you've learned.
• A Builder's Mindset: We are impressed by candidates who have tangible experience shipping projects that work. This could be through student engineering competitions such as FSAE or developing a product out of a hackathon.
• A Knack for Collaboration: We value people who make teams work better together. We're interested in your experience adjusting how your team collaborated during a challenge, establishing a new communication routine for a club project, or any other instance where you thoughtfully improved teamwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical or quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, or a related discipline).
• A demonstrated passion for learning and a high potential for growth.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to work independently, manage projects, and show initiative.
• A deep curiosity and interest in autonomous vehicles, robotics, or complex software and hardware systems.

Bonus Qualifications

• Internship experience in a technology company, program management, or a related field.
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira.
• Basic scripting or data analysis skills (e.g., Python, SQL).

Compensation

$37-43/hour

This is a contract position and employment for this position will be through a vendor contracted with our client. The hourly pay range is posted and you will be eligible for a benefits package as offered by the vendor.

This is an onsite opportunity. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.