Program Manager, Product Operations Planning at Aurorainnovation

Who we are Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn. Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We are seeking a highly experienced and mission-driven Program Manager to join our Product Operations Planning team based in Coppell, Texas, to plan & coordinate on-road development operations. This team member will play a pivotal role in overseeing, coordinating, and planning critical autonomous vehicle testing activities across our sites. This role is critical to driving product development, fleet optimization, and efficiency by ensuring all on-road development-focused activities are seamlessly coordinated and completed on time. Aurora’s Product and Development Operations team is making the technology of the future a reality. We are at the forefront of technology, providing thought partnership to product, operations & engineering and ensuring commercial operations capabilities are delivered on time, safely, and efficiently. Aurora’s Operations Team maintains a flexible schedule to ensure comprehensive mission support. To support our 24/7 engineering goals, off-hour work will be required as dictated by business needs. While we make every effort to maintain regular business hours, day-to-day working hours are determined by the operational demands of the fleet. Successful candidates should expect to provide additional support during peak testing seasons, including extended hours or holidays, to ensure the continuity of our engineering objectives This position requires exceptional leadership, a safety-first focus, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, requiring strong coordination with stakeholders across operations, software, and hardware In this role, you will • Act as the primary owner and working lead for coordinating on-road development activities requiring immediate deployment and long-term scheduling. • Ensure mission prioritization and assignment are aligned with development goals and timelines while considering commercial and business goals • Own the accountability for ensuring development activities are completed on time, coordinating necessary field operations, and delivering proper documentation and status to stakeholders • Collaborate with engineering, product, operations, and customer teams to define project scopes, milestones, deliverables, and priorities • Serve as the cultural and motivational leader for the dispatch team, driving cross-functional stakeholders to meet company goals. • Drive continuous process improvement, leading side projects to enhance development readiness and maximize efficiency. • Lead project planning, resource allocation, and scheduling to ensure timely and efficient deployment • Provide direct support during daily dispatch management and act as the point of contact for emergent operations, incident response, and urgent scheduling adjustments. • Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to address potential challenges • Communicate clearly, efficiently, and regularly to operations leadership and all stakeholders. Required Qualifications • 5+ years of experience in dispatch, fleet operations, or a related high-tempo scheduling environment. • Experience overseeing testing and product deployments • Skilled in creating detailed operational workflows, processes and (or) planning models • Exceptional critical thinking and the ability to make command decisions and take initiative. • Strong judgment and communication skills, especially in high-pressure or time-sensitive situations. • Conflict management and resolution experience. • Flexibility for day, night, and/or weekend work, not always planned far in advance. Desirable Qualifications • Experience in operations, technology, robotics, or the automotive field. • BA/BS degree or high school diploma/GED with equivalent practical experience. • Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholder groups or geographies. • Deep understanding of risk analysis and management. The base salary range for this position is $83,000.00-$120,500.00 per year. Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits. #LI-KM23 Working at Aurora At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks. We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week. Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom. Our commitment to safety At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what. Our commitment to inclusion Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [Upgrade to PRO to see contact]. 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