Senior Program Manager, Development Testing Operations

Who We Are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self‑driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, bringing a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge.

What We Are Looking For

Aurora's Product Operations team ensures new software releases are validated with rigor and speed before they reach the commercial fleet. We partner closely with Engineering, Safety, and Release Management to make sure every release—onboard and offboard—passes through well‑defined, consistently executed test gates. We are searching for a Senior Program Manager, Development Testing Operations (Release Testing) to own the test procedures that gate software releases, drive operational excellence in how those tests are executed, and close the feedback loop between test results and engineering.

In This Role

• Own release test procedures – maintain, version, and continuously improve the test plans, checklists, and standard operating procedures used to gate software releases, ensuring they stay current with engineering requirements and release cadence.
• Communicate with stakeholders – work with stakeholders to clearly communicate release timelines across engineering and operations.
• Ensure operational excellence in test execution – define clear pass/fail and escalation criteria, audit test runs for procedural adherence, and drive consistency so releases are tested the same rigorous way every time, minimizing re‑work and re‑testing.
• Close the feedback loop – triage test failures and coverage gaps into actionable engineering tickets, track them to resolution, and ensure lessons learned from each release cycle are incorporated back into test procedures.
• Serve as a key input to release gating decisions – partner with Release Management and Engineering to confirm test evidence is complete and current ahead of go/no‑go decisions.
• Identify and reconcile gaps across test types – compare coverage across different stages of the release testing pipeline (e.g., component‑level checks vs. full‑release regression) to catch blind spots before they become production issues.
• Drive continuous improvement of the testing program – lead initiatives to streamline test scope, reduce cycle time, and improve signal quality, balancing coverage against speed and cost.
• Report status and risk – provide regular, clear updates to Engineering, Release Management, and Ops leadership on testing progress, blockers, and release readiness.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Program Management, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Release Engineering, or a related role.
• Demonstrated experience owning or improving test procedures, QA processes, or release/quality gates in a technical environment.
• Ability to develop a functional understanding of how software releases move through a testing pipeline, including regression testing and staged rollout concepts.
• Experience driving process improvement and change management within a cross‑functional organization.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple test cycles and competing priorities.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with comfort translating technical test results into risk and status reporting for stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Comfort operating in environments where safety and quality are core requirements.
• Ability to support being part of an on‑call rotation.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with shifting release schedules.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with release management, CI/CD pipelines, or regression testing frameworks in a technology or engineering‑driven organization.
• Familiarity with defect/issue tracking and test management tooling (e.g., Jira, TestRail, or equivalent).
• Proven experience managing relationships and expectations with senior leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Comfort using dashboards or reporting tools to track test coverage, defect trends, and release readiness.
• Experience in autonomous vehicle, automotive, robotics, or similarly safety‑critical operational environments.
• Passion for shipping reliable, high‑quality releases and adapting to new responsibilities as the testing program scales.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $100,000 – $145,000 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. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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—without any jerks. We believe in‑person work increases collaboration, empathy, and our ability to lead effectively, so we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in the office at least three days per week.

Commitment to Safety

The core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best‑in‑class self‑driving technology takes time, and each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee and seeks candidates who take active responsibility, can help build an atmosphere of trust, and prioritize working safely.

Commitment to Inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran or military status, disability, or any other status protected by law. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law, and provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. For assistance or accommodation due to a disability, contact careersiteaccommodations@aurora.tech.