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Senior Technical Program Manager

  • California, Foster City

  • 09/03/2026

  • Contract

  • Active

Job Description:

  • Job Summary
    The Senior Technical Program Manager will lead firmware development programs for existing and next-generation robotaxi platforms, spanning sensor and perception hardware firmware, compute platform BSP and bootloader, and infotainment ECU firmware. The role will own end-to-end program management from requirements and architecture through bring-up, integration, validation, production release, and sustaining. The TPM will coordinate cross-functional engineering teams, suppliers, and contract manufacturers while driving release plans, hardware and firmware milestones, risk mitigation, manufacturing readiness, and executive communication.

    Key Responsibilities
    • Own end-to-end program management for firmware development across sensor and perception hardware, compute platform BSP and bootloader, and infotainment ECUs.
    • Drive programs from requirements and architecture through bring-up, integration, validation, production release, and sustaining.
    • Build and manage firmware release plans covering feature freeze, code complete, integration, validation, and sign-off.
    • Synchronize firmware release plans with hardware build events including EVT, DVT, and PVT and broader vehicle program milestones.
    • Coordinate Hardware, Firmware, Functional Safety, Validation, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Vehicle Development teams to align priorities, dependencies, and deliverables.
    • Drive bring-up readiness to ensure bootloaders, drivers, diagnostics, and test firmware are available when hardware boards arrive.
    • Own firmware manufacturing activities including factory flashing and provisioning, secure key injection, end-of-line test firmware, firmware version control at contract manufacturers, and firmware content for build events.
    • Establish standardized program reporting and communicate progress, accomplishments, issues, risks, and defect burn-down to cross-functional teams and leadership.
    • Identify risks and dependencies early and drive mitigation actions through closure with engineering teams, contract manufacturers, and vendors.
    • Establish agendas and decision points for key meetings to eliminate bottlenecks and minimize program risks.
    • Support cross-functional decisions involving engineering, finance, and strategy.
    • Drive release management and defect triage activities for embedded software, including branching and release strategy, code freeze, and sign-off criteria.

    Required Qualifications
    • 6+ years of Technical Program Management or Engineering Program Management experience supporting firmware or embedded software programs.
    • Demonstrated end-to-end experience taking embedded products from requirements through bring-up, validation, and production release.
    • Direct experience driving firmware through manufacturing, including factory flashing and provisioning, end-of-line test requirements, and firmware version control at a contract manufacturer.
    • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
    • Strong embedded systems or firmware background.
    • Experience owning embedded software release management and defect triage, including branching and release strategies, code freezes, and sign-off criteria.
    • Demonstrated ability to work across hardware, software, firmware, functional safety, and systems engineering teams.
    • Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly and concisely report program progress, risks, issues, and decisions to cross-functional teams and leadership.
    • Proficiency with program management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and Gantt charts.
    • Comfortable working with Git-based workflows and CI systems.
    • Ability to operate effectively in rapid development cycles and remain flexible and calm amid uncertainty.
    • Strong self-motivation, ownership, and proactive problem-solving skills.

    Preferred Qualifications
    • End-to-end development experience in the automotive or consumer electronics industry at the system or subsystem level.
    • Working knowledge of embedded firmware development, including SoC and MCU bring-up, bootloaders, secure boot, Linux BSP, device drivers, sensor interfaces, time synchronization, field/OTA updates, and diagnostics.
    • Experience with sensor interfaces such as MIPI/CSI, SerDes, Ethernet, SPI, and I2C.
    • Experience holding silicon, sensor, and module vendors accountable to BSP and SDK delivery schedules.
    • Experience managing two or more complete program development cycles for systems with tight hardware, firmware, and software integration.
    • Experience with autonomous vehicles, test platforms, automotive processes, or aerospace processes.
    • Experience managing production programs through mass production and post-production sustaining phases, including field firmware updates and firmware change control.
    • Experience working with engineering, finance, and strategy teams on complex program decisions.
    • Strong working relationships with senior leaders and engineering teams across functions and departments.
    • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

    Certifications
    • PMP or equivalent certification.

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