Staff Technical Program Manager, OEM Programs

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. This candidate will manage cross-functional programs to integrate the new generations of the Aurora Driver with a number of vehicle platforms at various stages of maturity. In doing so, s/he will be responsible for setting milestones with a high level of cross-department dependencies, tracking progress and maintaining accountability against those milestones, and identifying and mitigating risks from early requirements definition phases to integrated vehicle deployment.

They will report to the Director of OEM Programs and will work closely with Product, Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering and Operations teams within Aurora.

In this role, you will

• Work with an OEM partner to integrate the Aurora Driver Kit onto an OEM base platform and to scale autonomous truck production. Manage requirements, deliverables, and milestones between Aurora and the OEM.


• Manage and be accountable for complex programs at a large scale, spanning functional teams and cross-functional initiatives, including hardware and software engineering, legal, safety and security, business and commercial development, finance, supply chain, and operations.


• Create cohesive work plans to track and drive partnership product deliverables, both internal and external to Aurora, across all phases of the program to ensure timely completion, resolve dependencies, evaluate risks, and effectively communicate status to upper management project stakeholders.


• Solicit, aggregate and track product and technical requirements for integrated vehicles to ensure alignment with high level company roadmap and satisfaction of the broader organization.


• Define, communicate, and track key performance indicators for OEM programs at various stages of maturity across multiple functions and departments.


• Identify, catalog, and report on risks to OEM programs across multiple teams. Manage burndown of these risks through the program lifecycle.


• Understand technical implementation at the architectural level and propose alternatives when necessary.


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


• Run programmatic meetings with appropriate level of detail for the respective audience - from working level to executive level. Proactively schedule meetings or discussions with cross-functional partners to address roadblocks. Ensure meetings are action-oriented, and result in clear notes covering outcomes/decisions, and next steps have identified DRIs and due dates.


• Build and maintain relationships with Aurora’s partners, understand their needs and drive alignment with Aurora’s product vision.


• Suggest and implement process improvements to OEM vehicle programs.

Required Qualifications

• Based near an Aurora office, preferably Pittsburgh but open to Mountain View, CA.


• Ability to travel to OEM partners outside of the U.S. when required. Estimated 2 weeks per quarter. 


• 5 yrs experience in program management and operations of highly technical initiatives.


• Ability to break complex projects down to manageable milestones and deliver them in a successful and timely manner.


• 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.


• Master collaborator -- unflappable with impeccable attention to detail and organization, ability to influence, motivate, and generate goodwill with teammates while juggling multiple projects at once and not letting the ball drop.


• Demonstrated direct impact through the design, development, and launch of exceptional products and programs.


• Solid technical aptitude and an ability to understand technical designs, challenges and risks; ability to work closely with engineers.

The base salary range for this position is $163K-$236K 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.

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#Mid-Senior