Technical Program Manager, Autonomy

Socket.dev; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

DiDi Autonomous Driving is seeking a dedicated Technical Program Manager (TPM) to accelerate software development and manage project schedules, resources, and deliverables. You will partner with engineering and operations teams to track milestones, flag risks, and communicate progress toward production readiness.

Responsibilities include milestone planning, progress tracking, release logistics, process optimization, and proactive issue resolution to keep projects on track and aligned with

Qualifications

• BS/MS in CS, EE, Systems, Automotive Eng or related tech field.
• 1–3 years in engineering, project management, or technical program management.
• Deep familiarity with modern software development lifecycles or automotive development processes.
• Strong track record coordinating and supporting complex cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Milestone Planning: break down strategies into detailed deliverables, owners, and timelines.
• Progress Tracking: monitor schedules and ensure teams know what to deliver.
• Release Logistics: manage daily software releases, documentation, and cross-team communication.
• Process & Meetings: define development processes and set meeting agendas to remove bottlenecks.
• Reporting & Action: track progress and escalate issues when schedules drift.

Skills

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Project management

Agile methodologies

Education

B.S./M.S. in CS/EE/Systems/Auto Eng

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

About the Company

DiDi's autonomous driving unit was established in 2016 with the mission of developing Level 4 autonomous driving (AD) technology to make transportation safer and more efficient. In August 2019, the unit became an independent company, DiDi Autonomous Driving, dedicated to advanced AD R&D, product application, and business expansion. We believe integrating AD technology into a shared-mobility fleet will generate immense social value. By leveraging DiDi's specialized technology, operational expertise, and integrated ecosystem, we are positioned to build and operate a highly efficient, user-oriented autonomous fleet.

About The Role

We are seeking a dedicated Technical Program Manager (TPM) to help us accelerate and optimize our software development processes and manage project schedules, resources, and deliverables. In this role, you will work closely with cross-functional teams to drill down our roadmap and facilitate effective execution at each stage of our growth curve. You will partner with engineering and operations teams to track project deliverables, identify milestones, flag risks early, and clearly communicate on-going progress to ensure our autonomous vehicles navigate the path to production smoothly.

Responsibilities

• Milestone Planning: Work with team leaders to break down high-level strategies and project goals into detailed deliverables, clear owners, and realistic timelines.
• Progress Tracking: Maintain project objectives and schedules by diligently tracking work progress, ensuring every project working team understands what they need to deliver at all times.
• Release Logistics: Help manage daily software releases, logistics, workflow documentation, and cross-team communication.
• Process & Meetings: Define and manage development processes and regular syncs; set the agenda for key decisions to be made at each meeting to eliminate bottlenecks and retire risks early.
• Reporting & Action: Track and report on overall project progress, proactively driving corrective actions and escalating issues as needed when schedules or scopes drift.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 1-3 years of hands-on experience in engineering, project management, or technical program management.
• Deep familiarity with modern software development lifecycles or automotive development processes.
• Strong track record or demonstrated ability in coordinating and supporting complex cross-functional projects.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build strong working relationships with technical leaders and engineers across different functional teams.
• Strong analytical capability to identify and act on opportunities to improve processes, resolve inefficiencies, and increase overall team productivity.
• Practical experience working within or supporting Agile software development teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with or strong interest in autonomous driving, robotics, or advanced driver-assistance systems.
• Experience using modern project management and tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
• Prior internship or work experience in a technical role (e.g., software engineering, testing, or systems engineering) before transitioning to project management.

The base salary range for the Technical Program Manager position is $115,000-$165,000 annually, in addition to bonus, equity, and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by the role, level, and location. Within the range, individual compensation is based on the work location as well as other factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.

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