Senior Technical Program Manager

AEye, Inc. is seeking a results-driven Senior Technical Program Manager to lead complex technical, cross-functional programs related to the development and deployment of AEye’s products. The ideal candidate will have a solid technical background with experience in hardware, software, and systems engineering, paired with exceptional program management skills. Experience with Lidar or other similar sensors will enable you to work closely with engineering, product, manufacturing, and customer teams to ensure technical program goals are met on time, in budget and within scope. The role will be expected to lead matrixed teams involved in the technical concept, design, development, and validation of lidars, develop integrated schedules, and drive the execution and launch of the product and manage customer projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end execution of continuous technical improvement initiatives for AEye’s Lidar products—from concept through launch and lifecycle support.
• Partner closely with product management and engineering teams to understand technical work packages and dependencies (covering firmware, software, hardware, and system engineering) and develop fully integrated schedules with a clear understanding of the critical path(s) and resource needs.
• Collaborating with engineering leads across optics, embedded systems, software, and mechanical design to align critical milestones and outcomes.
• Develop deep knowledge of interdependencies and trade-offs to ensure milestone deliveries across Engineering and Operations, resolving issues where appropriate and escalating as necessary.
• Provide deep technical guidance across teams, maintaining updated project plans, drive to target schedules, and provide technical risk assessments for hardware and software deliverables.
• Ensure Engineering leadership is regularly updated on milestones and trade-offs – no surprises.
• Manage tradeoffs across performance, cost, and schedule in coordination with product and business stakeholders – Work with senior leaders as needed.
• Lead cross-functional meetings, track dependencies, and lead process to communicate program status clearly and regularly to executives and partners.
• Be hands-on to track progress, troubleshoot issues, anticipate, and address roadblocks with team members, and facilitate quick resolution on technical issues
• Coordinate with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to support successful prototype builds and production ramp-up.
• Interface with the Operations and Manufacturing partners/CMs to ensure product readiness, completeness of Bill-of-Materials, drive quality expectations and ensure target schedules are executed as per plan.  
• Identify and mitigate technical risks early by fostering transparent communication and proactive problem-solving.
• Serve as a key PMO rep with external customers when needed, especially for customer-specific deliverables such as POC projects.
• Ensure required configuration and change management is in place.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering or related field
• 5-7 years of experience as a Technical Program Manager or similar role in hardware/embedded systems companies.
• Deep understanding of product development lifecycle for complex electromechanical systems (preferably optical or LiDAR).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams in a matrixed environment.
• Very good team player and collaborator with strong interpersonal and intercultural social skills and ability to get things done via formal and informal networks
• Strong organizational, outstanding communication, and risk management skills.
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent).
• Deep knowledge and proven experience in all phases of the product lifecycle and in launching successful products
• Onsite a minimum of 3 days in our Pleasanton, CA office                       

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or PMP certification.
• Experience in LiDAR, sensor technology, robotics, automotive, or aerospace.
• Familiarity with ASIL, ISO 26262, or other safety-critical standards.
• Exposure to agile/hybrid product development methodologies.

Annual Base Salary Range: 145K-165K