Technical Program Manager [AQ-24639]

Aquent; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is partnering with an autonomous mobility technology leader to deliver large-scale software, cloud, and networking programs. You will work with senior engineering and product leaders to drive execution, shape roadmaps, and manage dependencies across multiple teams and platforms.

The role emphasizes architecture discussions, risk management, and leveraging AI-enabled tools to enhance decision-making and delivery.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical program management in software, infrastructure, or platform programs.
• Experience delivering large-scale initiatives across SDLC stages from planning to production deployment.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and modern practices.
• Experience with wireless connectivity technologies and distributed data pipelines is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end technical program management for complex software, platform, and infrastructure initiatives across multiple teams.
• Influence roadmaps, resource allocation, priorities, and strategic decisions with senior leaders.
• Drive cross-functional execution across software, cloud, networking, and data pipelines.
• Participate in architecture discussions, assess trade-offs, dependencies, and risks.
• Oversee programs involving cloud infrastructure, data pipelines, and distributed systems.
• Improve PM frameworks, governance, and execution tooling.
• Identify risks, escalations, and program-level trade-offs for predictable delivery.
• Leverage AI tools to support engineering workflows and decision-making.
• Translate technical challenges into clear recommendations for leadership.
• Drive accountability and alignment across distributed teams and partners.

Skills

Technical program management

SDLC mastery

Executive communication

Architectural discussion

Ambiguity navigation

Cross-functional leadership

Delivery leadership

Mentoring teams

Agile/Scrum

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

AWS

API Gateway

Apache Kafka

KafkaJS

Protobuf

mTLS

Job description

Aquent is partnering with an innovative technology company at the forefront of autonomous mobility, developing advanced systems that are transforming the future of transportation. This organization brings together software engineering, wireless connectivity, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence to build reliable, scalable technology that supports next-generation autonomous systems. Join a highly collaborative engineering environment where your technical expertise and program leadership will help bring complex, mission-critical innovations to life.

We are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager to lead large-scale software engineering and infrastructure initiatives spanning multiple teams, platforms, and technologies. This role combines strategic program leadership with deep technical engagement across wireless networking, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, data pipelines, and AI-enabled development. You will work closely with senior engineering and product leaders to drive execution, influence technical roadmaps, resolve complex dependencies, and ensure successful delivery of critical programs. The ideal candidate brings a strong software engineering foundation, understands modern networking and connectivity technologies, and can confidently participate in architecture discussions while using AI tools to improve technical decision-making and program execution.

What You’ll Do

• Lead end-to-end technical program management for complex, large-scale software engineering, platform, and infrastructure initiatives, from technical planning and architecture through implementation and delivery.
• Partner with VP- and Director-level engineering and product leaders to influence technical roadmaps, resource allocation, program priorities, and strategic decisions.
• Drive cross-functional execution across software engineering, cloud infrastructure, networking, connectivity, and platform teams, managing dependencies and aligning competing priorities.
• Participate in technical architecture and system design discussions, evaluating feasibility, engineering trade-offs, integration dependencies, and delivery risks.
• Oversee programs involving wireless connectivity, networking protocols, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and data pipelines.
• Establish and continuously improve technical program management frameworks, execution processes, reporting, and engineering best practices.
• Identify and proactively manage technical risks, escalations, architectural dependencies, and program-level trade-offs to ensure predictable delivery.
• Leverage AI-powered development tools and agentic AI capabilities to support engineering workflows, technical decision-making, and program efficiency.
• Translate complex technical challenges into clear recommendations and actionable updates for engineering leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Drive accountability and alignment across engineering organizations, external partners, and distributed technical teams.

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical program management experience leading complex, cross-functional software engineering, infrastructure, or platform programs.
• Proven success delivering large-scale engineering initiatives across the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including planning, architecture, development, testing, integration, and production deployment.
• Strong technical understanding of software architecture, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and modern software engineering practices.
• Experience working with wireless connectivity technologies, including 4G/5G and Multi-WAN load balancing.
• Knowledge of networking protocols and network security, including TCP/UDP, NAT traversal, and mutual TLS (mTLS).
• Experience with distributed data pipelines and messaging technologies, including Apache Kafka, KafkaJS, and Protobuf serialization.
• Familiarity with AWS cloud infrastructure, including API Gateway and cloud-based service integrations.
• Experience using AI-powered engineering tools to evaluate technical designs, support code-related decisions, and improve software development workflows.
• Understanding of agentic AI models, AI chatbots, and their application in engineering programs and technical workflows.
• Ability to participate credibly in technical architecture discussions, assess system design trade-offs, and identify implementation risks.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex engineering dependencies, resolving technical blockers, and influencing teams without direct authority.
• Strong executive communication skills, including experience partnering with senior engineering and product leadership.
• Experience establishing or improving engineering program management processes, governance frameworks, and execution tools.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize competing initiatives, and drive technical programs toward measurable outcomes.

Bonus Qualifications

• Previous experience at a software or technology company delivering infrastructure, platform, networking, or product engineering programs.
• Experience with connected devices, telecommunications, wireless connectivity platforms, or other distributed communication systems.
• Familiarity with additional cloud platforms such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or Microsoft Azure.
• Strong understanding of microservices, cloud-native architectures, API integrations, and distributed system reliability.
• Previous experience as a software engineer, systems engineer, infrastructure engineer, or in another hands‑on technical role.
• PMP, PgMP, Agile, or Scrum certification.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and debugging skills, with the ability to work effectively alongside engineering teams to resolve complex technical challenges.