Senior Technical Program Manager

About the role

Zoox is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional initiatives in the autonomous vehicle space. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, operations, and product strategy, driving complex programs from concept through delivery. The position is based in Foster City, California, and reports to senior leadership within the organization. The Senior Technical Program Manager plays a critical role in translating high-level company objectives into actionable program plans and owning the program management discipline for a portfolio of interconnected technology initiatives.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead end-to-end program planning for autonomous vehicle technology development projects across multiple teams.
• Define program scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with engineering and product leadership.
• Establish timelines, milestones, and success criteria for each technical program under management.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including software, hardware, and operations to maintain project momentum.
• Identify and mitigate program risks, escalating issues to leadership when timelines or quality are at stake.
• Track program metrics and produce regular status reports for senior management and executive stakeholders.
• Facilitate alignment between technical teams and business units to ensure program goals match company priorities.
• Manage resource allocation and capacity planning to ensure teams have the support needed for delivery.
• Drive process improvements within program management workflows to increase efficiency and transparency.
• Serve as the central point of contact for program-related questions across the organization.
• Maintain documentation of program decisions, changes, and outcomes for institutional knowledge and audit purposes.
• Champion a culture of accountability and data-driven decision-making within all assigned programs.
• Oversee vendor and partner relationships that support program execution and technology integration efforts.
• Conduct post-program retrospectives to capture lessons learned and apply insights to future initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, business, or a related technical field is required.
• Minimum of five years of experience in technical program management or a similar operational role.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong understanding of autonomous vehicle systems, robotics, or related technology domains is expected.
• Proficiency with project management methodologies including Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Experience with program budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning across large organizations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously without loss of detail.
• Proven track record of delivering technical programs on time and within defined scope and budget.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in a technical or business discipline is a plus for this role.
• Prior experience at a transportation or mobility company adds valuable context for this position.
• Familiarity with safety-critical systems and regulatory compliance processes in the automotive industry.
• Background in both hardware and software program management across integrated product development cycles and launches.
• Experience working in a fast-paced startup or high-growth environment is valued for this position.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and safety standards applicable to autonomous mobility platforms is beneficial.

Skills & tools

• Program management platforms such as Jira, Asana, or Monday.com for tracking work and deliverables.
• Data analysis and visualization tools including Excel, Tableau, or Looker for reporting metrics.
• Collaboration suites like Slack, Google Workspace, or Microsoft Teams for cross-team coordination.
• Version control and documentation systems such as Confluence, Notion, or SharePoint for knowledge management.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and software development lifecycle concepts for engineering programs.
• Financial planning tools and spreadsheets for budget tracking and resource allocation analysis.
• Roadmap and planning tools such as Aha, Productboard, or similar for strategic program visualization.
• Communication and presentation tools including PowerPoint, Google Slides, or equivalent for stakeholder updates.

Practical notes

• This role is based in Foster City, California, and requires on-site presence during regular business hours.
• The position reports to the Director of Program Management or equivalent senior leader at Zoox.
• Candidates should expect a structured interview process including multiple rounds with hiring managers and team leads.
• Zoox is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to background or identity.
• The hiring timeline may extend several weeks as the company evaluates candidates thoroughly for this senior role.
• Relocation assistance may be available for candidates transitioning to the Foster City area from other regions.
• The role may involve occasional travel to other Zoox offices or partner facilities as needed.
• Zoox offers comprehensive benefits including health coverage, retirement plans, and equity participation for eligible employees.

About the company

Zoox is building the world's most advanced self-driving hardware and software solution. The efficiency demands of such a system require an expert fine tuning of both the compute hardware architecture as well as the algorithms and middleware that runs on it to achieve maximum throughput at the most optimal power levels.