About the RoleGatik is looking for a detail-oriented, highly organized
Program Manager, Operations Readiness to make sure our operations teams are prepared for every change that reaches the field. In this role, you will manage readiness for software releases, hardware improvements, platform updates, operational process changes, and end-state improvement rollouts, using lean principles and standardized processes. Reporting to the Director of Central Operations, you will act as the primary conduit between Technical Engineering and Operations, and partner closely with Product, Training, and Safety so that every change is enabled, communicated, trained, and validated before launch. You will be instrumental in maintaining safety and operational continuity while driving fast, reliable delivery of improvements across our autonomous fleet.
This role is
hybrid,
2 days per week in
Santa Clara, Phoenix, Dallas, or Toronto.
What You'll Do- Own readiness programs end to end. Plan and run readiness for software releases, hardware improvements, platform updates, process changes, and end-state rollouts, from early scoping through launch and post-launch stabilization.
- Standardize the readiness process. Build and maintain standard work, templates, checklists, and go/no-go gates so every launch follows a consistent, repeatable process.
- Apply lean principles. Use lean tools (value stream mapping, waste elimination, root cause analysis) to make readiness and rollout workflows faster, simpler, and less error-prone.
- Bridge Engineering and Operations. Act as the conduit between Technical Engineering and Operations: translate technical changes into operational impact, and bring field realities back into engineering priorities.
- Maintain the operations triage process. Own the triage process for issues coming out of operations, including intake, prioritization, routing to the right engineering or functional owners, and tracking to resolution.
- Escalate field feedback. Collect and synthesize feedback from operations teams, escalate critical issues quickly and clearly, and make sure feedback shapes future releases and improvements.
- Partner across functions. Work with Product, Operations, Training, and Safety to align on scope, dependencies, timelines, and owners for each change.
- Drive training and enablement. Coordinate with Training to make sure documentation, SOP updates, training content, and field communications are delivered and completed before launch.
- Manage risk and safety alignment. Work with Safety to identify operational risks, confirm mitigations are in place, and make sure changes meet safety and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate rollouts and close the loop. Plan phased or market-by-market rollouts, serve as the single point of coordination at launch, and run retrospectives to improve the process.
What We're Looking For- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of experience in program management, operations, or launch management.
- Experience managing cross-functional programs with several stakeholders, including technical engineering teams.
- Experience building or running an issue triage, intake, or escalation process.
- Working knowledge of lean principles and process standardization.
- Experience preparing operations teams for product, technology, or process changes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including turning technical information into clear operational guidance.
- Experience with program management and issue tracking tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Smartsheet.
- Experience in autonomous vehicles, trucking, logistics, or fleet operations preferred.
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt, or equivalent lean training preferred.
- Experience supporting software or hardware release cycles in a technology or robotics environment preferred.
- Familiarity with safety-critical operations and change management processes preferred.
- Experience working with training and enablement teams to roll out SOPs and field training preferred.
- PMP, CSM, or similar program management certification preferred.
- Experience in a high-growth or startup environment preferred.
