Senior Technical Program Manager

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team in Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavioral Models, and Robotics.

The Human Interactive Driving (HID) team seeks to accelerate the path to building a much more intelligent vehicle that places humans at the center of a more evocative and safer driving experience. Under the Driving-Sensei concept, we research AI-based interactions to unlock a person’s full driving capability while simultaneously making driving safer and more enjoyable.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Program Manager (TPM) to help support the development and launch of research prototypes developed under Driving Sensei. The ultimate goal is to integrate these HW and SW research components into a holistic UX on a real vehicle. The vehicle will be deployed on a real race track and evaluated with real customers to determine the efficacy and acceptance of an AI-based race-driving coach. Further, this project involves transferring these prototypes to real-world driving use cases such as teen driving. To drive these projects, the TPM will work across all departments in the HID division as well as across several global Toyota entities.

• Manage and implement the technical program for project delivery across multiple internal departments and external Toyota entities
• Work closely with project owner, external collaborators, engineering, design, and UX research teams to coordinate high quality delivery of results
• Develop and lead program roadmaps, milestones, and deliverables
• Perform Scrum/Agile ceremonies across the program to ensure timely delivery of achievements
• Lead the logistical coordination of prototype vehicle launches onsite at a race track with real customers
• Manage resource allocation, budget, and external vendor contracts for the program
• Present status reports regarding project execution status and areas to improve efficiency and teamwork
• Proactively identify and assess any challenges and risks associated with delivery and initiate mitigations including development of new processes, documentation, or organizational changes
• Maintain documentation including project updates and lists of publications, patents, presentations, and upcoming activities
• Lead the coordination of demos to major collaborators, including onsite at a race track
• Work on-site at our Los Altos office, travel monthly to a race track for vehicle deployment and testing when necessary, and occasionally travel to Japan for reporting to partners

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
• 8+ years of experience (at least 2 of those managing technical projects)
• Ability to communicate sophisticated concepts clearly across different audiences
• Have a high level of initiative and self-motivation, work without direct supervision

• Experience working in the field of artificial intelligence including autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems or robotics
• Experience in research project management
• Experience in automotive industry
• Experience in coordinating extensive fieldwork involving the launch of complex HW/SW prototypes with real customers

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $170,240 and $255,360/year for California-based roles; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Note that TRI offers a generous benefits package (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave) and an annual cash bonus structure. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

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