Staff Technical Program Manager, Camera Hardware

What to Expect
The Staff Technical Program Manager, Camera Hardware is a senior technical program leader within the Autopilot and Electronic Systems Engineering organization. This role owns end-to-end strategy and execution for Camera Hardware and Camera Cleaning product development across vehicle programs and is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, technical judgment, and organizational influence.
Beyond day-to-day program tracking, the Staff TPM sets the program architecture for how camera hardware is planned, validated, released, and launched; drives cross-functional decision-making at the system and vehicle level; and elevates team execution quality through process design, risk leadership, and executive-ready communication. This is a staff-level role for a leader who can define the plan of record, resolve ambiguity, and deliver complex electromechanical systems at Tesla scale.

What You’ll Do

• Own end-to-end strategy and execution for Camera Hardware and Camera Cleaning programs from concept through production, including program plans of record, scope, timing, dependencies, readiness gates, and success criteria across vehicle programs
• Lead cross-functional delivery across Electrical, Integration, Distribution, Mechanical, Thermal, Firmware, Optical, Test, Reliability, Sourcing, Supplier Industrialization, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and New Product Introduction; resolve systemic blockers and drive decisions that protect design, cost, capacity, and launch commitments
• Govern design validation, prototype strategy, and manufacturing readiness, including DV targets/test cases, build content and schedule, DFM feedback, NPI deliverables, issue prioritization, and closure against vehicle and production milestones
• Own BOM, configuration, and change-management strategy for camera hardware programs, including ECO release, tooling kickoff, part modifications, design intent control, supplier data delivery, and multi-configuration product structure readiness
• Lead program risk management and executive communication by identifying design, supplier, validation, and manufacturing risks; driving owned mitigations; and consolidating multi-org inputs into dashboards, operating rhythms, and executive reviews that frame tradeoffs and recommended actions
• Continuously improve program operating systems for greater precision, dependability, and scalability while preserving Tesla’s speed and agility; mentor and influence TPMs, project engineers, and technical partners to raise planning quality and cross-functional execution

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Engineering Management, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of progressive experience in technical program management, project engineering, or product development for complex electromechanical / mechatronic systems, including 5+ years leading multi-workstream hardware programs in automotive or a similarly complex high-volume environment, with multiple products delivered at medium-to-high volume
• Demonstrated ownership of program plans of record spanning design, validation, supplier readiness, NPI, and launch—including complex timing plans, critical path, dependency management, and production readiness—not only task tracking
• Strong track record in cross-functional risk management and executive communication, with the ability to identify critical technical and program risks, drive mitigations, and lead clear decision forums
• Technical fluency across electrical, mechanical, and software/firmware development processes sufficient to challenge assumptions, prioritize tradeoffs, and engage engineering leads as a peer; proficiency with program operating tools (including Microsoft Project or equivalent)
• Willingness to travel domestically up to approximately 20–30% as needed for supplier, manufacturing, and vehicle program support. Employer will accept any suitable combination of education, training, or experience
• Prior individual contributor design engineering experience in electrical, mechanical, optical, or mechatronic hardware
• Direct experience with camera modules, imaging/cleaning systems, sensors, vehicle electronic systems, Autopilot / ADAS hardware, or other high-reliability automotive electronics
• Experience leading design validation, reliability testing, supplier industrialization, and production ramp through successful model launch(s) or major product introductions, with measurable impact on schedule, quality, cost, or execution quality
• Experience building scalable program operating systems and decision frameworks, and mentoring TPMs/project engineers or influencing senior technical stakeholders without direct autority