Technical Program Manager (Contract)
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:
We are seeking a Junior Technical Program Manager to support the planning, coordination, and execution of software development initiatives for our next-generation vehicle platforms. In this role, you will work closely with a Principal TPM and software engineering teams across embedded systems and platform software. You will help track project milestones, manage team deliverables, and ensure alignment across global engineering, vendor, and partner teams. This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their TPM career who thrives in fast-paced environments, is eager to learn, and has a strong foundation in software development lifecycles and project coordination.
Role Responsibilities:
- Support the execution of project plans and track progress toward software milestones.
- Assist in managing day-to-day task tracking and team stand-ups across engineering teams.
- Maintain and update project schedules, documentation, and tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).
- Collaborate with global stakeholders to ensure cross-team alignment on goals and dependencies.
- Help facilitate software release cadences and integration timelines.
- Identify and escalate risks, blockers, and resource gaps to the Principal TPM or engineering leads.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies and drive clear communication between technical and non-technical teams.
- Support data collection and reporting for program status and metrics.
Required Specialized Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field.
- 2–4 years of experience in technical project or program coordination, ideally in software or embedded systems.
- Exposure to Agile methodologies and software development lifecycles.
- Familiarity with tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and project reporting dashboards.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to work with cross-functional stakeholders and navigate ambiguity.
- Interest in or experience with embedded systems, automotive software, or platform-level development is a plus.
- Passion for learning, improving processes, and growing in a technical program management career path.
Workplace Flexibility:
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This is a contract W2 position
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This role is based in Mountain View, CA and requires onsite presence, remote arrangements not available
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Immediate availability is required. The selected candidate is expected to start promptly upon offer acceptance and pending successful completion of a standard background check and drug screening
- Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future
- We do not accept C2C (Corp-to-Corp), 1099, or third-party agency submissions for this position
- The hourly contract rate for this position in Mountain View, CA is $48.00 - $60.00, depending on factors such as qualifications, certifications, relevant experience, and training.
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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