About the role:
Technical Program Managers at Samsara drive planning and execution of our most complex programs, driving strategic and tactical initiatives that have a material impact on the business. In this role you will support a global team of TPMs that work across the entire R&D organization. You will partner closely with leaders in Engineering (software, quality, firmware, hardware) and Product Management to plan and prioritize TPM allocations for new products or features and key organizational initiatives. You will establish standards and norms to ensure your team develops high-confidence plans, partners effectively with Product and Engineering stakeholders, drives cross-team awareness and alignment, and provides thought leadership as we navigate the surprises and course corrections inherent to development programs. While your team will primarily focus on delivery of software programs, you will interface closely with stakeholders in hardware engineering as well to deliver end-to-end features.
You should apply if:
- You want to impact the industries that run our world: The software, firmware, and hardware you build will result in real-world impact—helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
- You want to build for scale: With over 2.3 million IoT devices deployed to our global customers, you will work on a range of new and mature technologies driving scalable innovation for customers across industries driving the world's physical operations.
- You are a life-long learner: We have ambitious goals. Every Samsarian has a growth mindset as we work with a wide range of technologies, challenges, and customers that push us to learn on the go.
- You believe customers are more than a number: Samsara engineers enjoy a rare closeness to the end user and you will have the opportunity to participate in customer interviews, collaborate with customer success and product managers, and use metrics to ensure our work is translating into better customer outcomes.
- You are a team player: Working on our Samsara Engineering teams requires a mix of independent effort and collaboration. Motivated by our mission, we’re all racing toward our connected operations vision, and we intend to win—together.
In this role, you will:
- Mentor and develop a high-performing global team of Technical Program Managers that drives cross-R&D programs and initiatives
- Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture that encourages continuous listening and improvement
- Work with senior stakeholders in engineering land product management to co-develop priorities and robust plans for complex multi-quarter technical programs. This includes building consensus and ensuring accountability
- Communicate broadly to engineering and senior leadership across teams, functions and level on goals, progress, and process efficiencies
- Identify organizational risks, resolve key prioritization conflicts, and establish appropriate resolution paths
- Build trusting relationships with stakeholders, partners, and team members to drive consensus, secure commitments, and negotiate positive outcomes
- Work with your team to develop and promote known best practices and train others on existing processes and tools
- Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices
- Hire, develop and lead an inclusive, engaged, and high-performing team
Minimum requirements for the role:
- 10+ years of full-time experience in technical program management or other engineering roles, with at least 5+ years of experience in people management
- B.S. degree or equivalent experience, in a technical field
- Clear written and verbal English communication skills
An ideal candidate also has:
- Track record of fostering and growing TPM talent in an organization
- Proven success establishing organization-wide processes and communication framework for R&D initiatives
- Knowledge of complex technical ecosystems and technical depth
- Direct experience working with software engineering leadership, technical teams, and individual contributors
- Ability to quickly adapt to shifting priorities, demands, and timelines
