Technical Program Manager – Manufacturing Engineering

Technical Program Manager – Manufacturing EngineeringCompany: Autonomous vehicle companyLocation: Hayward, CA – Fully OnsitePay: $92.44/hr W2Schedule: Full-time contract, 30+ hours/weekAssignment: ContractNo sponsorship or C2C availableWe are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager, Manufacturing Engineering to support the scaling of complex hardware and vehicle manufacturing programs from validation through launch and start of production.This role will serve as a cross-functional bridge across manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, procurement, quality, logistics, finance, and operations, translating strategic milestones into detailed execution plans and driving alignment across complex programs.Responsibilities:Translate corporate strategy and program milestones into detailed manufacturing roadmaps, schedules, deliverables, and execution plans.Partner with engineering teams and suppliers to define and coordinate vehicle and manufacturing validation plans.Lead manufacturing strategies, assessments, and studies across complex hardware programs.Coordinate launch readiness and start-of-production activities.Support vehicle assembly and testing operations by identifying risks, roadblocks, dependencies, and escalation requirements.Partner with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, finance, PMO, and suppliers to define and track resource requirements.Establish operating processes, meeting cadences, and communication structures to maintain cross-functional alignment.Track program milestones, risks, dependencies, decisions, and deliverables.Provide clear program status updates and recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.Support continuous improvement and resolution of cross-functional manufacturing issues.Qualifications:BS or MS degree in Engineering, Management, or a related discipline.5+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, technical program management, or related areas.Experience with industrial manufacturing, such as automotive, aerospace, robotics, or other complex hardware environments.Proven experience managing complex cross-functional programs involving multiple engineering and operational teams.Experience coordinating manufacturing or vehicle validation activities is highly preferred.Experience working with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.Strong understanding of manufacturing, engineering, quality, logistics, and operational dependencies.Strong project planning, risk management, communication, and organizational skills.Ability to communicate complex technical and program information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Ability to work effectively in a fully onsite environment.Interview Process: 30-minute Manager Zoom → 1.5-hour panel interview → onsite portion of panel interview.