Technical Program Manager, HW Systems and Safety

AURORA; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora is seeking a Technical Program Manager, HW Systems and Safety, to lead complex hardware programs through full lifecycles at scale. You will align diverse teams—engineers, manufacturing, legal, safety, finance, and operations—across multiple sites.

Responsibilities include planning, risk management, dashboards for status, and driving execution while enabling change management. The role requires strong communication and practical hardware development experience in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 3-5 years of program management experience in a fast paced environment.
• Experience developing hardware through defined Product Development Process of Stage Gates.
• Strong communication to global audiences at all levels.
• Solid technical aptitude and understanding of designs, risks and challenges.
• Hands-on experience with project management tools.
• Experience using AI tools within a business setting to solve problems and improve productivity.

Responsibilities

• Manage and be accountable for complex Hardware Systems and Safety programs through full product lifecycle at a large scale.
• Consolidate input from multiple functional teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Establish project plans, milestones, and priorities that align with product milestones.
• Define, implement, and drive execution of project requirements, workflows, and plans.
• Develop and maintain dashboards to track status and communicate key metrics.
• Identify, catalog, and report risks to integration programs and manage burndown of risks.
• Represent the HW Systems and Safety organization in program meetings and propose solutions.
• Support change management process and collaborate on change approvals.
• Use analytical skills to identify improvements within the team and process.
• Understand system-level implementation and explore alternatives when needed.
• Proactively remove obstacles to drive momentum and progress.

Skills

Program management

Hardware development

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

AI tools in business

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Who we are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

What we are looking for

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We’re searching for a Technical Program Manager, HW Systems and Safety.

In this role, you will

• Manage and be accountable for complex Hardware Systems and Safety programs through full product lifecycle at a large scale

• Consolidate input from a wide variety of functional teams and cross-functional initiatives, including hardware and software engineering, manufacturing and production planning, legal and regulatory compliance, safety and security, business and commercial development, finance, supply chain, and operations

• Establish project plans, milestones, and priorities that align with product development milestones

• Define, implement, and drive execution of project requirements, workflows, and plans

• Develop and maintain dashboards to track status and to communicate key project metrics to the broader organization

• Identify, catalog, and report on risks to integration programs across multiple teams. Manage burndown of these risks through the program lifecycle. Proactively schedule meetings or discussions with cross-functional partners to address roadblocks.

• Represent the HW Systems and Safety organization in program meetings to provide updates on project status including highlighting risks, and outlining proposed solutions and mitigating steps.

• Support change management process and collaborate with fellow TPM cross-functionally on change approval and implementations

• Utilize analytical skills to identify opportunities and implement improvements within the HW Systems and Safety team

• Understand technical implementation at the system level and propose alternatives when necessary, ask questions that clarify priorities and push the team to be effective

• Proactively remove obstacles to drive momentum and progress, identify gaps in communication or schedule, provide support to teams balancing competing priorities and drive results

Required Qualifications

• Based at an Aurora office, in Pittsburgh, PA or San Francisco / Mountain View, CA in support of our mission first policy. Ability to travel.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

• 3-5 years of program management experience in a fast paced, highly fluid environment or other evidence of exceptional ability

• Experience developing hardware through defined Product Development Process of Stage Gates.

• Strong ability to communicate (verbal and written) succinctly and effectively to various global audiences at all levels, from line engineers to partners to C-level executives

• Solid technical aptitude and an ability to understand technical designs, challenges and risks. Prior experience in engineering roles as an individual contributor is a plus.

• Open-minded self-starter with the ability to adapt, improvise and problem solve project management related issues.

• Hands‑on experience using project management tools to execute and manage projects

• Experience using AI tools within a business setting to solve problems and improve productivity

The base salary range for this position is $135,000-$220,000 per year. Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job‑related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

Working at Aurora

At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.

We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.

Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.

Our commitment to safety

At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best‑in‑class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long‑term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.

Our commitment to inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.