Technical Program Manager

About Parallel Systems

Parallel Systems is innovating autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles aimed at revolutionizing freight transport by shifting a portion of the $900 billion U.S. trucking market onto railways. Their cutting-edge technology promotes cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join their forward-thinking team to contribute to shaping a smarter and more sustainable future in global freight.

Role Overview

As Parallel Systems' first Technical Program Manager (TPM), you will be vital in overseeing the coordination and execution of projects crossing vehicle hardware, autonomous systems, and enterprise software domains. This position requires working closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software teams to maintain progress visibility, manage timelines, resolve risks, and ensure system-wide integration as the company scales next-generation autonomous rail vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to manage the integrated master schedule encompassing hardware, software, and product deliveries.
• Synchronize timelines, priorities, and deliverables among hardware, firmware, and software teams for current and upcoming platforms.
• Monitor milestones, identify risks, and lead efforts to address obstacles.
• Ensure clear alignment of requirements between engineering, product, and customer-facing teams.
• Conduct regular meetings, status updates, and planning sessions to drive program visibility.
• Develop and maintain documentation that enhances execution transparency across all organizational levels.
• Support the development and integration of new vehicle versions, software upgrades, and firmware updates.

Success Milestones

• 30 Days: Acquaint with development processes, tools, and teams; maintain the integrated master schedule; manage active programs and implement execution dashboards showing key future timelines.
• 60 Days: Lead weekly program coordination across teams; highlight cross-functional risks; oversee significant cross-team releases with thorough post-mortem analyses; introduce process improvements for better visibility and delivery efficiency.
• 90 Days: Become a trusted partner for program planning and delivery; proactively identify and mitigate risks affecting critical path items.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in technical or engineering program management roles.
• Strong technical aptitude facilitating collaboration with both hardware and software teams.
• Proven experience successfully delivering complex, cross-disciplinary projects on schedule and within budget.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with program tracking tools like Jira and Confluence.
• Capability to navigate ambiguity and foster clarity in a rapidly growing startup.

Preferred Experience

• Background in transportation, robotics, or integrated hardware/software systems.
• Knowledge of product development lifecycles or new product introduction processes.
• Experience with enterprise software platforms or freight industry-related tools.

Compensation and Inclusion

Compensation for this role ranges from $176,000 to $220,000 annually for new hires, considering factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and location. Final salary will be determined during the interview process. Parallel Systems is an equal opportunity employer and actively supports workplace diversity and inclusion. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities who need them throughout the application and employment process; interested candidates should contact their recruiter accordingly.