Program Manager, Operations Safety

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Who We Are

Aurora (Nasdaq: AUR) is delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly to make transportation safer, increasingly accessible, and more reliable and efficient than ever before. The Aurora Driver is a self-driving system designed to operate multiple vehicle types, from freight-hauling trucks to ride-hailing passenger vehicles. It underpins Aurora’s driver-as-a-service products for trucking and ride-hailing. Aurora is working with industry leaders across the transportation ecosystem, including Continental, FedEx, Hirschbach, PACCAR, Ryder, Schneider, Toyota, Uber, Uber Freight, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and Werner. For Aurora’s latest news, visit aurora.tech and @aurora_inno on Twitter.

Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We’re searching for a Program Manager, Operations Safety.

The Program Manager, Operations Safety, will be a key driver in advancing Aurora's mission to deliver safe and reliable autonomous vehicle technology. This role is responsible for leading the development, overseeing appropriate implementation, and monitoring of safety initiatives across Aurora's operations. The successful candidate will utilize their expertise in safety-critical operations to manage Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, and ensure that safety standards are consistently met and improved. This position will significantly contribute to Aurora's path toward safe and broad commercialization.

In this role, you will 

  • Generate safety insights from performance data to ensure safe on-road operations.
  • Review software updates to assess their impact on operational safety policies in alignment with the company’s operational footprint.
  • Prepare and present safety performance reports and presentations for executive audiences.
  • Manage the full lifecycle of all operational safety metrics, collaborating with Safety, Product, Engineering, Operations, and Data Science teams.
  • Ensure SPIs are measured against baseline thresholds, with regular reviews to maintain data integrity.
  • Serve as the Operational Safety representative in enterprise-wide SPI working groups.
  • Lead complex safety programs, including the oversight of operational safety procedures by setting goals, timelines, and managing projects to ensure alignment with Aurora’s overall safety strategy.
  • Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and best practices in safety management processes.
  • Generate weekly status reports and lead programmatic meetings, such as Safety Performance Reviews and cross-functional alignment sessions.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (Safety, Engineering, Product, Operations, Data Science) to implement and drive safety initiatives.
  • Communicate with all organizational levels to promote a safety-first culture and ensure transparency.
  • Maintain a strong technical understanding of the Aurora Driver system capabilities, product roadmap, operations, and supporting ecosystem to manage safety risks and operational hazards effectively.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 3+ years of experience in safety-critical operations, ideally in autonomous vehicles, automotive, aviation, or similar industries, focusing on safety analysis, program management, or system integration.
  • Proven experience managing safety initiatives in complex, high-stakes environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., Safety, Engineering, Product Management, Operations).
  • Experience with safety management systems (SMS), data analytics tools, and risk assessment methods relevant to vehicle operations and technology development.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to guide decision-making and safety performance improvements.
  • Ability to lead complex projects by breaking them into actionable milestones aligned with business needs.
  • Proficiency in program management and safety analytics tools (e.g., Jira, Tableau, MATLAB).
  • Strong problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities under ambiguity, with excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders and external stakeholders.

 Desirable Qualifications

  • Certifications such as PMP, CSP, Six Sigma, CFSE/P, or other relevant safety or project management certifications.
  • Knowledge of safety regulations and standards (e.g., FMVSS, NHTSA, UNECE) related to autonomous vehicle technology.
  • Experience in autonomous vehicle technology or transportation safety.
  • Familiarity with advanced technologies, such as AI, machine learning, LIDAR, or other sensor technologies used in autonomous systems.
  • Experience developing and implementing Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) and using data-driven methods for continuous improvement.
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams.
  • Understanding of regulatory compliance processes related to safety standards.
  • Experience with Jira, Jama, Confluence, Google Suite.

The base salary range for this position is $116,000 - $173,000 per year.  Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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Working at Aurora

At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.

We have offices in several locations across the United States, where we encourage team and cross-functional collaboration. Aurora offers competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits, and additional healthcare support including medical transportation reimbursement, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits. We empower our employees and their families with options to further their unique physical, mental, and financial well-being.

Our Learning and Development offerings include Aurora Academy, where our people learn, develop, and practice the essential skills that drive Aurora’s mission, continually up-leveling our team along the way. Our Careers page provides insight into career opportunities at Aurora, and you can find all the latest news on our Blog. 

Safety is central to everything we do. Every employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. We seek candidates who take active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization's long-term success by working safely — no matter what.

We believe that self-driving technology has broad benefits – including increased access to transportation. To realize those benefits, we need a workforce with diverse experiences, insights, and perspectives — a workforce that reflects the communities our technology will serve.

Aurora is committed to providing access to anyone who seeks information from our website. We invite anyone using assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or Braille reader, to email us at [email protected]  if they experience difficulty using our website. Please describe the accessibility problem and include a URL (if available).

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected]. 

For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Aurora, every employee is empowered to take an active role in building an inclusive, collaborative, and unified culture that leverages our diverse strengths, perspectives, and backgrounds. 

Transforming how the world moves people and goods involves seeking to understand backgrounds, insights, and lived experiences that differ from our own. One way we accomplish that is with our 15 employee-led Aurora Unified Groups, which support diverse voices and drive inclusive collaboration. We believe that teamwork, belonging, and trust motivate and support our employees to do their best work. As our team grows, we strive to attract and retain exceptional talent that adds new perspectives and experiences and continues to drive innovation. Learn more on our Culture Page.

We are committed to helping qualified military community members leverage their talents in service of our mission. To understand how your military experience aligns with career opportunities at Aurora, review your military job classification at MyNextMove.org and consider applying for open positions corresponding to your identified skills and experiences!