Technical Program Manager

Overview Placement Type: Temporary Salary: $79.77-88.64 Hourly Start Date: Sep 11, 2026 Aquent, a leader in connecting top talent with the world's most innovative companies, is partnering with a pioneering organization at the forefront of autonomous technology. This company is revolutionizing transportation by developing advanced hardware for future fleets of self-driving vehicles. Their hardware engineering team is critical to this mission, creating the foundational compute, control, and electrical systems that bring these vehicles to life. We are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Technical Program Manager to join this groundbreaking team. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead critical operational initiatives and spearhead the adoption of cutting-edge AI automation tools, significantly enhancing team productivity and project delivery. You will be instrumental in shaping how the team plans, executes, and scales its efforts, directly contributing to the realization of groundbreaking autonomous technology and the success of the company's ambitious goals. You will navigate complex cross-functional landscapes, working with engineering teams across hardware, firmware, software, vehicle engineering, procurement, and manufacturing. Your authentic and passionate servant leadership will be key in guiding projects from conception to deployment, ensuring the successful delivery of vital systems and helping achieve strategic business objectives. Key Responsibilities Lead strategic operational planning, including quarterly cycles, budgeting, and continuous improvement initiatives for the hardware engineering team. This involves developing systematic approaches to planning and issue management frameworks. Define, develop, and roll out advanced AI automation tools designed to significantly elevate the productivity of program managers and engineers through agentic integration across various productivity and IT tools. Drive effective issue resolution by overseeing hygiene and target achievement for issue tracking systems, ensuring critical issues and cross-team requests are resolved efficiently and within agreed timelines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline firmware configuration processes across all project phases and target configurations. Actively foster an inclusive environment, inviting and valuing diverse perspectives in decision-making to strengthen team outcomes. Develop and maintain clear, concise standard reports and one-pagers to effectively communicate program status, risks, issues, and achievements to key stakeholders and leadership. Must-Have Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent practical experience. A minimum of 6 years of experience in Technical Program Management, with a proven track record of leading and successfully delivering complex cross-functional programs in hardware and/or software development. Hands-on familiarity with end-to-end product development processes and proficiency in program management tools such as Gantt charts, risk tracking and reporting, Smartsheet, and JIRA. Demonstrated understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs), prompt engineering, and experience with AI tools like Claude and Gemini. Proficiency in agentic coding workflows using Integrated Development Environments such as Cursor, Claude Code, Visual Studio Code, or Windsurf. Exceptional ability to maintain a strategic overview while providing clear, well-structured, and concise communications tailored to diverse audiences. Excellent written, presentation, and verbal communication skills are essential. Nice-to-Have Qualifications Proven experience in building AI-based solutions for small to medium businesses or enterprise environments to automate workflows across productivity tools like JIRA, Confluence, Google Suite, and Slack. Previous experience in product development Operations Program Management, covering areas such as budgeting, organization-wide planning cycles, risk management, reporting (e.g., dashboards), and process development. #LI-KR2 About Aquent Talent Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.