Technical Program Manager [AQ-18228]

Aquent; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is partnering with a pioneering company in San Mateo, CA to lead firmware-focused Technical Program Management for autonomous vehicle hardware and software integration.

You will own end-to-end firmware programs across multiple vehicle systems, coordinating hardware bring-up, validation, and production release, while aligning with safety and reliability requirements. Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration are essential in this fast-paced, hardware-software environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in technical or engineering program management for firmware or embedded software.
• Experience taking embedded products from requirements through bring-up, validation, and production release.
• Experience managing firmware in manufacturing: factory flashing, provisioning, end-of-line testing, version control via contract manufacturer.
• Own embedded software release management and defect triage, including branching and release sign-off.
• Coordinate hardware, firmware, software, systems engineering, and validation teams.
• Background in automotive, consumer electronics, or similarly complex hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end program management for embedded firmware across vehicle systems.
• Build and drive firmware release plans with milestones like feature freeze and sign-off.
• Synchronize firmware with hardware build events (EVT/DVT/PVT).
• Coordinate dependencies across hardware, firmware, software, systems engineering, and validation.
• Ensure bootloaders, drivers, diagnostics, and test firmware are ready for hardware bring-up.
• Lead manufacturing firmware activities: factory flashing, provisioning, secure-key injection, end-of-line testing, version control, and CM coordination.
• Manage release strategy, defect triage, burn-down, change control, and production readiness.
• Identify program risks early and drive mitigation plans.
• Provide clear updates to engineering teams and senior leadership.
• Establish structured processes and reporting to improve execution.

Skills

Technical Program Management

Embedded firmware

Cross-functional leadership

Hardware-software integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Git-based workflows

Gantt-based planning

Job description

Aquent is partnering with a pioneering company that is revolutionizing transportation through cutting-edge autonomous technology. This innovative leader is shaping the future of mobility by developing next-generation autonomous systems that prioritize performance, reliability, and safety. Join a team at the forefront of innovation, where your expertise will directly contribute to bringing groundbreaking autonomous vehicles to life.

Are you ready to drive innovation from concept to production, bridging the critical gap between hardware and software in advanced autonomous systems? This pivotal role offers the chance to lead complex embedded firmware development programs for advanced vehicle hardware, directly influencing the performance, reliability, and safety of next-generation autonomous systems. This is an exceptional opportunity to own the end-to-end program management for firmware development across multiple vehicle systems, playing a central role in bringing these groundbreaking vehicles to life. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between hardware and software, ensuring critical components like sensor and perception hardware, compute-platform BSPs, bootloaders, and infotainment ECUs are brought to fruition. Your leadership will be vital in navigating the entire product lifecycle, from initial requirements and architecture definition through hardware bring-up, integration, validation, and ultimately, successful production release and ongoing sustaining efforts.

What You’ll Do

• Own end-to-end program management for embedded firmware development across multiple vehicle systems.
• Build and drive firmware release plans, including feature freeze, code complete, integration, validation, and final sign-off.
• Synchronize firmware deliverables with hardware build events, including EVT, DVT, and PVT.
• Coordinate dependencies across hardware, firmware, software, systems engineering, functional safety, validation, manufacturing, procurement, and vehicle development.
• Ensure bootloaders, drivers, diagnostics, and test firmware are ready for hardware bring-up.
• Lead manufacturing firmware activities, including factory flashing, provisioning, secure-key injection, end-of-line testing, version control, and contract manufacturer coordination.
• Manage release strategy, defect triage, defect burn-down, change control, and production readiness.
• Identify program risks early and drive mitigation plans to completion.
• Provide clear, concise updates to engineering teams, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership.
• Establish structured processes and reporting methods that improve execution across fast-moving programs.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 6+ years of Technical Program Management or Engineering Program Management experience supporting firmware or embedded software programs.
• Demonstrated experience taking embedded products from requirements through bring-up, validation, and production release.
• Direct experience managing firmware in a manufacturing environment, including factory flashing, provisioning, end-of-line testing, and firmware version control through a contract manufacturer.
• Experience owning embedded software release management and defect triage, including branching strategy, code freezes, release criteria, and sign-off.
• Strong experience coordinating hardware, firmware, software, functional safety, validation, and systems engineering teams.
• Background in automotive, consumer electronics, or similarly complex hardware products strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline—or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proficiency with tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Gantt-based program planning.
• Familiarity with Git-based development workflows and continuous integration systems.
• Excellent communication, organization, risk management, and stakeholder-influence skills.
• Ability to remain effective and adaptable during rapid development cycles and ambiguity.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Knowledge of SoC or MCU bring-up, bootloaders, secure boot, Linux BSPs, and device drivers.
• Familiarity with sensor interfaces such as MIPI/CSI, SerDes, Ethernet, SPI, and I2C.
• Experience with time synchronization, diagnostics, OTA or field updates, and firmware change control.
• Experience managing silicon, sensor, or module vendors against BSP and SDK delivery schedules.
• Experience leading at least two complete product-development cycles involving tightly integrated hardware, firmware, and software.
• Experience supporting mass production and post-production sustaining programs.
• Autonomous vehicle, automotive, aerospace, or advanced test-platform experience.
• PMP certification or an advanced engineering degree.

This is an excellent opportunity for a firmware-focused individual who knows how to influence without formal authority, manage highly interconnected technical dependencies, and bring structure to ambitious engineering programs.

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.