Embedded Technical Program Manager

An Embedded Technical Program Manager at Motive is responsible for taking on total ownership of product development projects. This includes preparing formal project plans, coordinating the contributions of various internal firmware teams, monitoring project progress, and administering a formal review process, among other tasks. Your role will not only involve direct project management but also coaching engineers and product managers on effective practices, particularly within Agile development frameworks.

To be considered for the Embedded Technical Program Manager position at Motive, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in managing firmware development for embedded products. This should encompass project scheduling, risk management, and leadership across multiple teams and sites. A solid understanding of Agile methodologies and a demonstrated ability to prioritize in ambiguous situations is essential.

The project development process for an Embedded Technical Program Manager at Motive involves creating detailed project plans along with schedules and deliverables. You'll conduct formal reviews to ensure each phase meets its objectives and work collaboratively to resolve issues that arise during product development. Continually monitoring project status and communicating updates to management will also be a crucial aspect of your role.

Motive values diversity and inclusiveness as foundational principles within the workplace. For an Embedded Technical Program Manager, this means being part of a team that welcomes individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. The commitment to building an inclusive environment encourages collaboration and innovation, which are vital for successful project development.

An Embedded Technical Program Manager at Motive can greatly influence the success of product development initiatives that enhance operational safety and efficiency for over 120,000 customers. By managing projects effectively and ensuring collaboration among a diverse range of teams, you will contribute to the refinement of Motive’s technologies, directly impacting customer satisfaction and overall business success.

In responding, focus on specific projects where you oversaw firmware development, detailing the technologies you used, the teams you coordinated, and the outcomes of those projects. Highlight any challenges faced and how you navigated them.

It’s important to discuss your strategies for prioritization, such as using project management tools, setting clear objectives, and maintaining open communication with teams to ensure alignment and address any conflicts early on.

Mention your familiarity with Agile methodologies and any experiences where you effectively implemented Agile processes in your projects. Explain how these methodologies enhance project visibility and team collaboration.

Discuss the tools and techniques you utilize for stakeholder communication, such as regular status reports, meetings, or dashboards. Emphasize the importance of transparency and how you tailor communication to meet the needs of different stakeholders.

Present a specific example that highlights your problem-solving skills. Detail the steps you took, how you communicated with stakeholders, and the outcome, emphasizing what you learned and how you mitigated risks moving forward.

Share examples of how you have effectively collaborated with various departments, such as engineering, sales, and marketing. Emphasize your understanding of their perspectives and how it contributed to project success.

Discuss the importance of defining key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with project goals. Explain how you gather data and use it to assess progress, make real-time adjustments, and report to stakeholders.

Provide insight into your coaching style. You might discuss methods for mentoring through workshops, one-on-one sessions, or direct feedback on their work, and how this has positively impacted team performance.

Describe proactive strategies like thorough planning, conducting thorough testing phases, and engaging in regular risk assessments throughout the project cycle to ensure that risk management is engrained in your project approach.

Explain your process for working closely with marketing and sales teams as well as conducting pre-launch assessments to ensure that all aspects of the product are ready for market entry, including alignment of messaging and customer support readiness.