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Principal Technical Program Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Mountain View, CA

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 Principal Technical Program Manager, Mechanical Engineering will oversee mechanical hardware development and launch management for the Hardware Organization. The role requires extensive experience in mechanical design, validation, and manufacturing, ensuring project objectives are met in terms of time, specifications, budget, and quality.

The individual will coordinate cross-functional teams, including Mechanical Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Engineers, and Suppliers, to ensure seamless product development and launch. Responsibilities include working with ECU mechanical housings, thermal management, and assembly processes from design to mass production.

Role Responsibilities:

Mechanical Hardware Project Management 

  • Drive on-time, on-spec, on-budget, and on-quality project execution.
  • Develop and maintain formal project plans, including schedules and deliverables for ME team
  • Communicate engineering requirements, specifications, project schedules, and budget constraints to cross-functional teams and stakeholders
  • Lead resource planning, risk management, and escalation processes
  • Collaborate with suppliers and vendors for prototype and production material procurement
  • Ensure compliance with automotive industry standards for mechanical reliability
  • Oversee DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFA (Design for Assembly) activities to ensure robust product designs
  • Conduct design reviews and validation milestones to ensure project readiness

Launch Management with Manufacturing Partners

  • Act as the primary interface with manufacturing partners from project initiation to production launch
  • Develop project schedules, financial plans, and technical requirements with manufacturing partners
  • Work with Failure Analysis Engineers and Quality Teams to troubleshoot and resolve mechanical issues in production
  • Support assembly processes including test automation, fixture validation, bug tracking, and process optimization.
  • Lead mechanical and manufacturing engineering efforts for joint development, covering PCB enclosures, thermal management, vibration resistance, and structural integrity.
  • Ensure early manufacturing engagement for design reviews, DFM, testing setup, and DV planning.
  • Coordinate with manufacturing partners on: Prototype builds and pilot runs, Production line setup and validation, Quality control and risk assessments, Ramp-up strategy for mass production, Field issue resolution strategies
  • Oversee mechanical reliability and validation testing for durability, stress, ingress protection (IP), and EMI shielding

​General Skills:

  • Expert communicator across cultural and team boundaries.
  • Expertise in motivating teams and fostering a collaborative and productive environment.
  • Background in managing multiple and competing stakeholder interests; establishing trust, clear roles and responsibilities, and good will between partner engineering organizations.
  • Experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
  • Collaborate and work with partners for hardware development and tests.
  • Collaborate and work with multiple teams across geographies and time zones.

​Required Specialized Skills:

  • Extensive knowledge of project scheduling, financial parameters, and technical requirements, managing projects from initiation to mass production
  • Strong background in mechanical design, validation, and manufacturing processes for automotive components
  • Strong understanding of testing and validation processes, including mechanical reliability testing, environmental stress testing, and vibration/shock testing
  • Experience with plastic injection molding, die casting, stamping, CNC machining, and other mechanical manufacturing processes
  • Prior experience in automotive projects, especially in the field of Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

​Desired Skills:

  • NPI project experience
  • DFM/DFA expertise – ensuring mechanical designs are optimized for manufacturing and assembly
  • Familiarity with CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) tools for structural, thermal, and vibration analysis

​Workplace Flexibility:

  • ​Travel to worldwide locations required, up to 20%

​Years of Relevant Experience:

  • 12+ years of experience with Hardware Project and Launch management
  • 2+ years of experience working with manufacturing partners from prototyping to production of mechanical hardware (housings, enclosures, heat sinks, fasteners, and structural components).

​Required Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or related degree

​Desired Education: 

  • Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, or related degree

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 $189,000 - 265,000.

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. 

 

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