Sr. Program Manager, Change Governance

Sr. Program Manager, Change Governance

Location: Foster City, CA (Onsite)
Pay Rate: $90-100/hour (W2 only)
Contract: 3-6 Months
Industry: Autonomous Mobility / Vehicle Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Sr. Program Manager, Change Governance to lead the end-to-end coordination of product changes from preliminary engineering approval through cross-functional review and production-line implementation.

This role sits at the center of a multidisciplinary change management process, ensuring product changes are properly evaluated, approved, documented, and implemented with strong governance and traceability.

You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Production, and other stakeholders to move complex changes through each stage of the process while identifying dependencies, risks, and potential blockers.

The ideal candidate brings strong program management experience in hardware product development and automotive manufacturing , along with an understanding of how engineering changes can impact BOMs, suppliers, validation, manufacturing readiness, and production. Success in this role requires strong organization, analytical thinking, technical fluency, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Key Responsibilities

• Own product changes from preliminary engineering approval through production-line implementation, maintaining visibility into status, approvals, decisions, and execution.
• Manage the change governance framework, including required documentation, approvals, checklists, and gate criteria.
• Drive change requests through governance gates while proactively identifying risks, blockers, dependencies, and delays.
• Coordinate cross-functional reviews and approvals across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Logistics, and other relevant teams.
• Understand and manage downstream impacts across multi-tier supply chains, including supplier qualification, sourcing, validation, and production readiness.
• Facilitate or support Change Review Board (CRB) meetings, including agendas, presentation materials, status updates, and follow-up actions.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready records of change status, approvals, decisions, and implementation activities within applicable change management, ERP, and PLM systems.
• Partner with production teams across multiple sites to confirm implementation readiness, including timing, resourcing, build sequencing, documentation, and training requirements.
• Develop and maintain leadership reporting and dashboards covering change pipeline health, status, risks, and key milestones.
• Reconcile data across Excel and Google Sheets and use tools such as Python, Apps Script, VBA, or similar technologies to automate recurring data retrieval and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of the change governance process.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of program management experience involving physical or hardware product development.
• Experience managing programs involving BOMs, component qualification, hardware validation, manufacturing, and physical supply chains .
• Experience working within or managing multi-tier automotive supply chains , including OEM, Tier 1, and Tier 2/3 supplier dependencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional programs involving Engineering, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and related functions without direct reporting authority.
• Experience with automotive product development and gate-driven program milestones, including APQP, PPAP, and SOP .
• Understanding of the cost, schedule, quality, and production-readiness implications of engineering changes.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and/or Google Sheets , including pivot tables, complex formulas, data reconciliation, and reporting.
• Experience using scripting or automation tools such as Python, Apps Script, VBA, or similar technologies .
• Experience with at least one change management, PLM, or ERP system , such as SAP, Windchill, or a comparable platform.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex program information and communicate effectively with technical and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and cross-functional dependencies.
• Ability to travel locally between Foster City, Hayward, and Kato, CA on a regular basis, with occasional out-of-station travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree such as an M.S. or MBA in Engineering or a related technical field.
• ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 certification.
• Experience with PLM or CAD tools.
• Experience supporting supplier nomination, re-sourcing, dual-sourcing strategies, or supplier development activities.
• Experience with manufacturing launches, including line readiness, build sequencing, launch risk management, run-at-rate, or capacity verification.

Work Location & Travel

• Onsite: Foster City, CA
• Regular local travel to Hayward and Kato, CA
• Up to 20% out-of-station travel
• Primary work location: Foster City, CA 94404

Interview Process

1. 30-minute video interview with the hiring manager
2. Approximately 1.5-hour on-site panel interview