Staff Technical Program Manager (IIX)

We are CARIAD, an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. Our mission is to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable, more comfortable, more digital, and more fun. To achieve that we are building the leading tech stack for the automotive industry and creating a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year. We’re looking for talented, digital minds like you to help us create code that moves the world. Together with you, we’ll build outstanding digital experiences and products for all Volkswagen Group brands that will transform mobility. Join us as we shape the future of the car and everyone around it.

Role Summary:

The Staff Technical Program Manager is an individual contributor responsible for driving execution of one or more complex, cross-functional technical programs within a global portfolio. This role partners closely with engineering, product, integration, security, validation, and external stakeholders to align scope, manage dependencies, and ensure readiness for key milestones.

The Staff TPM brings structure to ambiguous problems, builds durable delivery plans, proactively manages risk, and communicates status and tradeoffs clearly. The role may mentor peers through best-practice sharing on specific programs but primarily focuses on hands-on program ownership and predictable delivery.

Role Responsibilities:

Program Execution & Risk Management

• Drives day-to-day coordination across engineering, product, hardware, software, security, and integration teams to ensure delivery accountability
• Track progress against plan of record, ensuring clear ownership and timely closure of action items
• Maintain logs and proactively identify delivery risks, technical gaps, and cross-team dependencies
• Drive mitigation plans, tradeoff discussions, and escalation paths; unblock teams and align on decisions
• Manage change control and scope adjustments with clear impact analysis (schedule/quality/resources)

Program Planning & Alignment

• Defines and drives clear program objectives and priorities aligned with organizational and vehicle program goals
• Translate technical, organizational, and dependency complexity into clear delivery plans for senior and executive stakeholders
• Owns program-level planning inputs related to scope, sequencing, milestones, and resource needs in collaboration with functional leaders
• Identifies and manages cross-functional interdependencies, proactively addressing risks that may impact delivery or strategic outcomes

Milestone Readiness & Release Support

• Coordinate readiness for major milestones (e.g., platform releases, integration events, validation gates)
• Partner with integration/release and validation teams on entry/exit criteria, defect triage signals, and stabilization plans
• Ensure teams are prepared for reviews with clear artifacts (plans, metrics, open issues, decision asks)

Reporting, Communication, and Continuous Improvement

• Provide program heath reporting: status, risks, trends, and recommended actions for stakeholders
• Documents best practices and operating standards to enable consistent execution at scale Documents program practices/lessons learned and shares with TPM community
• Uses advanced analytical judgment to evaluate outcomes, identify systemic issues, and drive improvements across the TPM organization

General Skills:

• Strong cross-functional leadership with a track record of delivering complex programs with multiple stakeholders
• Analytical and structured problem-solving; able to translate ambiguity into clear plans and measurable outcomes
• Clear, concise communication (written, verbal, and executive-ready status updates)
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills; able to drive alignment without direct authority
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, global environments across time zones and cultures
• Proactive ownership mindset: anticipates risks, removes blockers, and drives accountability

Required Specialized Skills:

• Proven experience planning and executing global, cross-company technical programs across complex, multi-brand stakeholder ecosystems
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to improving execution models in technology-driven environments without reliance on heavy governance structures
• Strong fundamentals in program planning and execution techniques (e.g., dependency mapping, critical path analysis, risk and issue management)
• Ability to synthesize complex program health, risks, and trade-offs into clear dashboards, KPIs, and executive-level summaries to influence decisions
• Fluency in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery methodologies, with judgment on when and how to apply each based on program need.
• Experience with program tooling (e.g., Jira/Confluence, Smartsheet/MS Project, reporting dashboards)

Desired Skills:

• PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or other program management certifications.
• Experience in automotive, mobility, or consumer software/hardware industries.
• Experience building operational frameworks, escalation paths, and delivery processes at scale.
• Proven success working across a parent company or alliance structure.
• International work experience (especially across U.S. and Europe), with cultural fluency and excellent communication skills.

Workplace Flexibility:

• Occasional travel to international and domestic locations
• Flexible schedule to support collaboration across global time zones

Years of Relevant Experience:

• 8+ years of experience delivering complex technical programs (software and/or hardware-software)
• 3+ years in a program management office (PMO) or leadership capacity

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Product Management or related field

Desired Education:

• Master’s degree in Business Administration or Engineering Management

Compensation

Salary range is dependent on factors such as geographical differentials, credentials or certifications, industry-based experience, qualification and training. In the city of Mountain View, CA, the salary range for this position is $161,710.00 - $234,325.00.

CARIAD, Inc. provides performance based merits and annual bonus along with a competitive benefits package. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match and defined contribution plan, short and long term disability, basic life and AD&D insurance, employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment plans, maternity and non-primary caregiver leave, adoption assistance, employee referral program and vacation and paid holidays. We also offer a unique vehicle lease program that covers registration and insurance fees.

CARIAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

Employment with Cariad Inc. is contingent upon the successful completion of this screening process. We emphasize the importance of compliance with export control and sanctions laws as a fundamental aspect of our operations. Our company is dedicated to adhering to these regulations to ensure the lawful and ethical conduct of our business activities. Employment with our company is contingent on either verifying U.S. citizenship or U.S. lawful permanent resident status or obtaining any necessary license or confirming the availability of an applicable exemption or license exception. You, the applicant, will be required to answer certain questions for export control purposes, and that information will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law. Cariad Inc. may choose not to apply for a license or use an applicable license exception (if available) for such individuals whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code may require authorization and may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree to participate in the export control and sanctions compliance screening process. Your cooperation in this matter is essential to our shared success and the integrity of our operations. Thank you for your understanding and commitment to upholding these important standards.