Technical Program Manager

Aquent is partnering with a leader in autonomous vehicle technology to hire an experienced Technical Program Manager to drive complex engineering release milestones, product validation, and launch readiness.

This is an opportunity to lead highly visible, cross-functional programs that bring together vehicle engineering, hardware, software, systems engineering, and manufacturing. You'll play a critical role in coordinating technical execution, resolving release blockers, and ensuring product milestones are supported by clear testing strategies, measurable success criteria, and informed engineering decisions.

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical program management experience with an understanding of engineering development, validation, and product release processes.

About the Partner Company

Our client is developing advanced autonomous mobility solutions that bring together vehicle design, software engineering, safety systems, and manufacturing. Their teams tackle complex engineering challenges and collaborate across disciplines to develop, validate, and deliver next-generation transportation technology.

You'll join a collaborative Program Management Office (PMO) that works closely with engineering and operational leadership to execute major company milestones, improve technical decision-making, and drive product readiness.

The Impact You Will Make

As a Technical Program Manager, you will own the execution of a major company product or service release milestone, coordinating engineering teams from test strategy and feature lock through validation, issue resolution, and release readiness.

You'll establish measurable success criteria, identify and escalate technical risks, and drive decisions that keep complex engineering programs moving forward. Working directly with engineering leaders and executive stakeholders, you'll translate technical progress into clear recommendations and help ensure critical milestones are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of major product and service release milestones, including developing milestone testing strategies, coordinating feature lock decisions, and driving overall release readiness.
• Partner with vehicle engineering, systems engineering, hardware, software development, and manufacturing operations to align technical requirements, dependencies, schedules, and deliverables.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestone success metrics, securing alignment and approvals through engineering leadership and executive decision forums.
• Drive cross-functional issue resolution by identifying technical risks, managing dependencies, escalating release blockers, and ensuring clear ownership and handoffs between engineering teams.
• Communicate program status, validation progress, technical risks, key decisions, and accomplishments to senior engineering management and executive leadership.
• Apply knowledge of vehicle platforms, software development lifecycles, safety clearance processes, and/or test operations to support informed release decisions and program execution.
• Support effective program execution through structured planning, risk management, milestone tracking, and cross-functional coordination.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in an engineering discipline, or equivalent engineering experience.
• 8+ years of experience in engineering or program management, with a focus on product launches and/or validation and testing.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional engineering projects involving multiple technical teams and stakeholders.
• Experience with automotive or aerospace engineering processes, or experience with test platforms, simulation, autonomous vehicles, or verification and validation (V&V) disciplines.
• Strong understanding of technical program execution, milestone management, risk identification, and issue escalation.
• Proficiency with project management tools and processes, such as Gantt charts, risk matrices, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent platforms.
• Ability to communicate complex program information clearly, concisely, and effectively to senior engineering and executive leadership.

Bonus Points

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
• Direct experience with autonomous vehicles, automotive or aerospace systems, simulation, test platforms, and/or advanced verification and validation processes.
• Experience developing and scaling program management strategies, processes, plans, procedures, and reporting frameworks.
• Experience improving engineering execution through structured risk management, issue escalation, and cross-functional decision-making.