Technical Program Manager - Product Software
Zoox · Foster City · $186,000–$224,000 (stated in the posting)
We are looking for a Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead and shape some of our most complex, high-stakes engineering programs. In this role, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy, setting the standard for program execution across the organization. You will be a trusted partner to senior engineering and product leadership, driving strategic initiatives that span multiple teams, systems, and business lines. This is a role for someone who brings deep technical intuition, strong organizational influence, and a track record of delivering at scale.
In this role, you will:
- Lead end-to-end program management for large-scale, multi-team engineering initiatives with significant business impact, from strategy through delivery.
- Serve as a strategic partner to VP- and Director-level engineering and product leaders, influencing roadmaps, resourcing decisions, and organizational priorities.
- Define and evolve program management frameworks, processes, and best practices across the engineering organization.
- Drive alignment across complex dependency landscapes involving multiple teams, external partners, and competing priorities.
- Anticipate and proactively manage risks, escalations, and trade-offs at a program and portfolio level.
- Communicate clearly and confidently to executive audiences — translating technical complexity into business impact and vice versa.
- Mentor and coach junior TPMs and contribute to building a high-performing program management function.
- Actively participate in architectural and technical scoping discussions, providing informed
input on feasibility, sequencing, and delivery risk.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in technical program management, with a proven record of delivering complex, org-wide engineering programs.
- Deep expertise managing multi-team software programs across the full SDLC, including large-scale platform, infrastructure, or product initiatives.
- Strong technical foundation — able to engage credibly in architectural discussions, understand system design trade-offs, and evaluate technical risk.
- Exceptional communication and executive presence — skilled at influencing without authority and navigating organizational dynamics.
- Experience building or improving program management processes and tooling at an organizational level.
- Proven ability to manage ambiguity, drive clarity, and make sound decisions under pressure in fast-paced environments.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience at a software company working on infrastructure, platform, or product engineering programs.
- Familiarity with cloud services (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and distributed systems concepts.
- PMP, PgMP, or Agile/Scrum certification is a plus.
- Prior background as a software engineer or in a technical role is advantageous.
- Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.