Technical Program Manager: Hardware & Sensor Systems [AQ-18046]

Aquent; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is partnering with a pioneering autonomous-technology company to lead hardware programs focused on sensor-cleaning systems for next-generation AV tech. You will steer cross-functional teams across engineering, supply, and operations, delivering robust hardware components on aggressive schedules.

This hands-on leadership role shapes safety-critical hardware through development, validation, and delivery.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of total professional experience in hardware or related fields.
• 5+ years leading technical programs involving physical hardware.
• Experience coordinating external suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Translate milestones into hardware development roadmaps, schedules, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Own and maintain the integrated program plan from development through validation and delivery.
• Coordinate closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, systems, safety, validation, product and operations teams.
• Serve as the primary program contact for international suppliers developing sensor-cleaning hardware components.
• Track supplier adherence to technical requirements, prototype builds, validation plans, and delivery schedules.
• Drive cross-functional alignment around design maturity, requirements, testing, validation, risks, and launch readiness.
• Identify technical and program risks early, establish mitigation plans, assign owners, and drive issues to resolution.
• Lead core team meetings, establish agendas, document decisions, and ensure actions are completed.
• Maintain program documentation and deliver concise updates covering status, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, and accomplishments.
• Partner with program leadership to maintain financial plans, forecasts, and budgets.
• Develop recommendations for complex technical and program decisions with input from engineering teams and suppliers.
• Support issue tracking, quarterly planning, ticket hygiene, KPIs, and continuous improvement across hardware engineering.

Skills

Program leadership

Hardware development

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Global travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Mechatronics or related

Tools

Polarion

Jira

Smartsheet

Lucidchart

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a pioneering autonomous-technology company that is at the forefront of innovation, where your expertise will directly contribute to shaping the future of transportation. This organization is dedicated to developing critical hardware systems that ensure the reliability and performance of advanced autonomous vehicles, revolutionizing how the world moves. We are seeking a visionary leader with a deep technical background in hardware engineering, ready to make a tangible impact on cutting-edge technology. In this pivotal role, you will drive the development of groundbreaking hardware solutions, specifically focusing on advanced sensor-cleaning systems for next-generation autonomous technology. This is a hands-on, hardware-centric engineering program position where your leadership will be vital in transforming complex engineering concepts into robust, validated products, directly influencing the safety and efficiency of the future of mobility. This is a unique opportunity for a hardware-focused engineering professional who began their career in mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or hardware product engineering, eager to apply their expertise in a program leadership capacity.

You will lead complex, cross-functional hardware programs, collaborating with engineering, firmware, systems, safety, validation, product, operations, and external suppliers. Your expertise will be crucial in driving hardware development schedules, managing technical dependencies and risks, and ensuring that sensor-cleaning components meet stringent engineering and validation milestones.

Responsibilities

• Translate corporate and engineering milestones into detailed hardware-development roadmaps, schedules, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Own and maintain the integrated program plan from early development through validation and delivery.
• Coordinate closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, systems, safety, validation, product and operations teams.
• Serve as the primary program contact for international suppliers developing sensor-cleaning and electromechanical hardware components.
• Track supplier adherence to technical requirements, prototype builds, development milestones, validation plans, and delivery schedules.
• Drive cross-functional alignment around design maturity, requirements, testing, validation, risks, and launch readiness.
• Identify technical and program risks early, establish mitigation plans, assign owners, and drive issues through resolution.
• Lead core team meetings, establish agendas, document decisions, and ensure action items are completed.
• Maintain program documentation and deliver concise updates covering status, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, and accomplishments.
• Partner with program leadership to maintain financial plans, forecasts, and program budgets.
• Develop recommendations for complex technical and program decisions by gathering input from engineering teams and suppliers.
• Support issue tracking, quarterly planning, ticket hygiene, KPIs, and continuous improvement across the broader hardware engineering organization.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline—or equivalent hands-on hardware engineering experience.
• At least 8 years of total professional experience.
• At least 5 years leading technical or engineering programs involving physical hardware products.
• At least 3 years of hands-on engineering experience in hardware product development before or alongside program management responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional hardware programs from development through testing, validation, and delivery.
• Experience managing external suppliers responsible for engineered hardware components.
• Experience coordinating technical requirements, prototypes, design changes, validation activities, development schedules, and supplier deliverables.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Strong understanding of hardware-development lifecycles, engineering dependencies, technical risk management, and design validation.
• Ability to influence engineering teams and suppliers without direct authority.
• Excellent program planning, documentation, executive communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple technical workstreams in a fast-moving and ambiguous engineering environment.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience in autonomous vehicles, automotive, aerospace, robotics, industrial equipment, or another safety-critical hardware environment.
• Experience developing sensor systems, sensor-cleaning systems, fluid-delivery systems, or electromechanical assemblies.
• Hardware experience involving electronics, pumps, valves, tubing, nozzles, pneumatics, hydraulics, or fluid systems.
• Experience with hardware design reviews, requirements management, verification and validation, prototype builds, and production readiness.
• Experience using Polarion, Jira, Smartsheet, Lucidchart, Google Workspace, or Microsoft Office.
• PMP certification or equivalent program-management certification.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! 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.