Technical Program Manager

Wayve

$171K — $274K *
Technical Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience leading complex, multi-team software or technology programs in fast-paced environments.
  • Strong technical understanding of modern software, machine learning, and robotics.
  • Ability to think systemically and understand interdependencies within complex systems.
  • Effective under pressure and can adapt communication styles to align teams.
  • Proficient in project management, risk management, and prioritization.
  • Excellent communicator, adept at simplifying complex ideas and maintaining team alignment.
  • Collaborative leader who influences and builds positive team dynamics.

Responsibilities

  • Drive project delivery by owning the project lifecycle and improving outcomes.
  • Boost efficiency by streamlining workflows and enhancing resource allocation.
  • Enable collaboration across teams through effective communication and goal alignment.
  • Manage risks proactively by anticipating issues and developing mitigation plans.
  • Keep stakeholders aligned through regular engagement and expectation management.
  • Align programs with business goals by making informed scope and resource decisions.
  • Champion continuous improvement by leading retrospectives and implementing feedback-driven changes.

Benefits

  • Full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA with hybrid work options.
  • Participation in a competitive equity package.
Full Job Description
The role

As a Technical Program Manager at Wayve, you'll lead complex, cross-functional programs across our engineering org - spanning AI, software, robotics, infrastructure, evaluation, validation, data, and product. You'll turn ambiguity into clear plans and keep multi-team delivery predictable in a fast-moving environment.

Working closely with engineering and cross-functional partners, your impact will be measured by your ability to deliver programs, drive efficiency, manage risk, and align execution with business goals. A successful TPM is a force multiplier - helping teams move faster, more effectively, and with purpose.

We hire TPMs across several areas - for example robotics, evaluation & validation, AI platform, and data operations - and we'll explore the best fit with you through the process.
Key Responsibilities
  • Drive project delivery: Own the project lifecycle and improve delivery outcomes through structured execution and coordination.
  • Boost efficiency: Identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and improve tooling and resource allocation to increase throughput.
  • Enable cross-team collaboration: Improve alignment across teams through effective communication, shared goals, and faster decisions.
  • Manage risk proactively: Anticipate issues, develop mitigation plans, and minimise impact on timelines and quality.
  • Keep stakeholders aligned: Engage regularly with internal stakeholders, manage expectations, and deliver on commitments.
  • Align with business goals: Ensure programs directly support Wayve's strategic priorities by making smart scope and resource decisions.
  • Champion continuous improvement: Lead retros, encourage feedback, and implement changes to improve processes, team dynamics, and outcomes.
About you

We're looking for the following skills and experience. (The first three are our must-haves.)

Essential
  • Bias for action / program delivery: 5+ years leading complex, multi-team software or technology programs in fast-paced or early-stage environments. You get things done.
  • Technically strong: Comfortable working with engineers and reasoning about modern software, ML, and robotics stacks, even if you don't write code.
  • Systems thinking: You reason about how the parts of a complex system fit together, and how a change in one area ripples into others.
  • Stays neutral and adapts under pressure: Effective in high-tension, ambiguous situations; you flex your style to keep people aligned and moving.
  • Strong project management: Skilled at planning, prioritising, managing risk and dependencies, and adapting as things change.
  • Clear communicator: You explain complex ideas simply, surface risk early, listen well, and keep teams aligned.
  • Collaborative leader: You bring people together, influence without authority, and create a positive team culture.
  • Strategic thinking & problem-solving: You keep the bigger picture in mind, stay calm under pressure, and find creative solutions.
  • Product-minded: You focus on outcomes and the people your programs serve - prioritising by impact and defining what good looks like, not just tracking activity.
  • Growth mindset: Open to feedback and always looking to improve.

Desirable
  • Ideally 8+ years as a Technical Program Manager.
  • An engineering or computer science degree, or experience working as an engineer; excels in Jira (or similar).
  • Exposure to autonomous vehicles, robotics, ML, simulation / evaluation, or other safety-critical or compute-heavy domains.

This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid) and the reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $171,600 to $274,000, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
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