Senior Program Manager – Release Management

We are seeking a Senior Program Manager to own the end-to-end release management process for our autonomous vehicle software and hardware systems and to drive cross-functional program execution at scale.

This role is ideal for someone with 6+ years of experience in program or technical project management who can operate independently, influence without authority, and build the processes and infrastructure needed to reliably ship complex, safety-critical systems.

The ideal candidate combines deep release management expertise with a strategic perspective to align engineering, product, and customer-facing teams around shared delivery goals.

Responsibilities

• Own the release management lifecycle from planning through deployment, including release readiness criteria, go/no-go decisions, and post-release retrospectives.
• Define and maintain release schedules that account for hardware/software dependencies, customer commitments, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the central coordination point for all release-related activities across engineering, QA, product, and field operations.
• Drive program-level planning, tracking, and risk management across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Develop and maintain release governance processes, including branching strategies, freeze windows, and rollback procedures in collaboration with engineering leads.
• Identify systemic risks and blockers across programs and drive resolution with appropriate urgency and escalation.
• Build and report on program and release KPIs, surfacing insights that inform leadership decisions on scope, schedule, and resource trade-offs.
• Partner with product and engineering leadership to translate roadmap priorities into executable delivery plans.
• Lead cross-functional release readiness reviews, integration testing coordination, and customer rollout sequencing.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in program or project management within a technical environment, with direct ownership of release management processes.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced degree a plus.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-team programs involving both software and hardware components.
• Deep experience with Jira administration, including workflow configuration, reporting, and cross-project coordination.
• Strong command of Agile methodologies and SDLC practices, including experience adapting them to hardware-coupled development cycles.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills; able to drive alignment across engineering, product, and executive stakeholders.
• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, or other safety-critical industries strongly preferred.
• Track record of bringing order to complex, fast-moving programs without slowing teams down.

Benefits & Perks

• Health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA and FSA (Health & Dependent Daycare), Employee Assistance Program, 1:1 Health Concierge)
• Life, Short-term and long-term disability insurance (Cyngn funds 100% of premiums)
• Company 401(k)
• Commuter Benefits
• Flexible vacation policy
• Remote or hybrid work opportunities
• Sabbatical leave opportunity after 5 years with the company
• Paid Parental Leave
• Daily lunches for in-office employees and fully-stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages
• Monthly meal and tech allowances for remote employees