Back to jobs

Sr. Technical Program Manager, Accessibility

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 Sr. Technical Program Manager will lead the strategic coordination and implementation of digital in-car accessibility solutions across CARIAD and the broader Volkswagen Group. This critical role involves managing the accessibility product backlog, leading PI and sprint planning activities, and ensuring delivery of accessible experiences across platforms and vehicle projects. Acting as the central interface between product, engineering, compliance, and accessibility experts, the TPM will drive continuous improvement in alignment with global accessibility standards such as US.CVAA. 

With a deep understanding of inclusive design, assistive technologies, and agile delivery methods, this role will support accessibility from concept through production, ensuring compliance, usability, and innovation at scale across VW Group brands and digital products. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical acumen, hands-on experience with Agile product ownership, and a demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a complex, fast-paced software development environment.

Role Responsibilities:

​Lead Accessibility Product Ownership and Agile Planning

  • Manage and prioritize the accessibility product backlog.
  • Define user stories and acceptance criteria in alignment with Volkswagen Group brand stakeholders and user needs.
  • Lead PI and sprint planning activities across multiple teams.
  • Ensure delivery and releases of accessibility features within program timelines.

Coordinate Cross-Functional Stakeholders and Communication

  • Serve as the main point of contact for accessibility efforts across CARIAD and VW Group brands.
  • Align product, engineering, compliance, and design teams through regular updates and documentation.
  • Facilitate collaboration with external partners, suppliers, and accessibility experts.

Monitor and Drive Resolution of Accessibility Issues

  • Track, triage, and manage accessibility bugs and technical issues.
  • Collaborate with development and QA teams on resolution, validation, and retesting.
  • Maintain visibility into issue status, risks, and resolution plans.

Champion Accessibility Standards and Best Practices

  • Promote WCAG compliance and inclusive design across the organization.
  • Organize or support training sessions, documentation, and accessibility workshops.
  • Provide guidance on accessible implementation patterns and tools.

​General Skills:

  • ​Leads with Integrity: Speaks-up with compassion & empathy to firmly stand by our values, principles, rules & regulations.
  • Takes Accountability: Assumes personal responsibility for making and keeping realistic agreements and openly owning mistakes and consequences, while demonstrating continuous commitment and consideration for the larger interests of society, the environment, the company and the team.
  • Creates Clarity & Momentum: Aligns people, processes and systems to create forward momentum. Anticipates and removes impediments. Builds consensus and motivates teams to joint-action to achieve common goals across organizational boundaries & cultural differences.
  • Thoughtful Problem Solver & Communicator with Executive Presence: Thinks analytically, critically, creatively and communicating with clarity, direction & purpose.
  • Intentional Team Builder: Shapes culture, roles & responsibilities with care & empathy to create engaged, empowered & high-performing interdisciplinary teams, working frameworks and processes that drive results & ensure project success.
  • Attentive Listener: Listens actively while withholding judgment and advice. Clarifies intentions & motivations to anticipate and address potential conflicts & avoid misunderstanding.
  • Drives Diversity: Acts from a deep-rooted belief that we build better teams & products when we empower & learn from the broadest spectrum of humanity.
  • Thrives in Ambiguity: Approaches challenges with an open and curious mindset and a strong bias towards action. Zooms out to systematically map out the situation and is comfortable making high impact decisions based on limited or conflicting information.
  • Develops Strategy, Partnerships & Business: Strong empathy, influencing and negotiation skills that help create alignment around product execution, budgets, resources, program planning, etc. Highly execution focused by working in conjunction with various stakeholders and counterparts.

​Required Specialized Skills:

  • ​Proven experience managing large-scale, cross- functional projects involving multiple stakeholders.
  • Familiarity with in-vehicle entertainment services, including Sirius XM, and their integration challenges.
  • Strong understanding of automotive software platforms, Android Automotive and entertainment system integrations.
  • Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Proficiency in Agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, SAFe) and project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).
  • Excellent stakeholder management and cross- functional leadership abilities.
  • Exceptional communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Proven problem-solving and risk management skills in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills to prioritize and balance multiple projects effectively.
  • Experience with software rollout processes for vehicle systems and applications.

​Desired Skills:

  • ​Expertise in system integration and familiarity with APIs, middleware, and automotive communication protocols.
  • Familiarity with funding processes and governance (e.g., Brand KUE Funding).
  • Knowledge of Infotainment Development process @CARIAD
  • Capacity to build a culture of continuous improvement and innovation
  • Flexibility to adapt to evolving project requirements
  • Ability to prioritize and align multiple infotainment related projects within a broader portfolio

​Workplace Flexibility:

  • ​Frequent early morning calls with Germany
  • Occasional domestic and international travel

​Years of Relevant Experience:

  • ​Minimum 6 years of experience in technical program management, preferably in automotive, software, or entertainment systems.

​Required Education:

  • ​Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

​Desired Education: 

  • ​Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or relevant technical discipline.

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 145,000 - 202,333.

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. 

 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Cariad, Inc.? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Cariad, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.