Staff Engineering Program Manager, Core Tech

Oura
San Francisco, CA
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have 10+ years leading cross-functional engineering programs and experience with early-stage tech development.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 10+ years leading cross-functional engineering programs and a track record in early-stage tech maturation
    — “10+ years of experience leading complex cross-functional engineering or technology development efforts
  • Individuals skilled in structuring ambiguous problems and defining readiness criteria for emerging technologies
    — “Demonstrated ability to lead work ahead of formal productization, including structuring ambiguous problems, planning technical work, and defining readiness
  • Candidates who can manage multiple initiatives in parallel across different timelines and maturity levels
    — “Experience driving multiple initiatives in parallel across different timelines, maturity levels, and stakeholder groups

Things to consider

  • In-office presence in San Francisco is required despite the hybrid work arrangement
    — “This role will be located in San Francisco, California with in-office collaboration required
  • Travel is a significant commitment, with up to 25–30% of the time required
    — “Willingness to travel up to 25–30% of the time
  • The role is not open to candidates in certain US states, which limits eligibility
    — “We are not considering candidates residing in the following states

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with phase-gated development models and readiness criteria in your resume and interviews
    — “Experience with phase-gated or maturity-based development models, including defining entry and exit criteria
  • Emphasize your ability to identify and mitigate technical and integration risks early in your application materials
    — “Identify and mitigate technical, supply, schedule, and integration risks early to reduce downstream NPI risk
  • Showcase your leadership in cross-functional teams and your ability to align global stakeholders
    — “Drive cross-functional alignment across all teams
  • Demonstrate your experience with prototype builds and design-of-experiments in your interview responses
    — “Lead early prototype builds, feasibility experiments, design-of-experiments, and other learning cycles
  • Include examples of process refinement and improvement in your resume to align with the role's expectations
    — “Help define and refine the core technology development process
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Multiple Core Technology Initiatives
  • Cross-Functional Alignment
  • Risk Mitigation
  • Program Readiness
  • Vendor Management
Typical background
10+ Years of Experience in Technical Program ManagementComplex Cross-Functional Engineering Efforts

Skills & requirements

Required

Technical Program ManagementCore Technology DevelopmentRisk MitigationCross-functional AlignmentEarly Prototype BuildsFeasibility ExperimentsProgram ReportingVendor ManagementCore Technology TransferNPI Program ReadinessTechnical FeasibilityRisk ReductionDevelopment PlanningDecision PointsReadiness CriteriaTechnical LeadershipExecutionCommunicationCollaborationHigh-performance Culture

Stack & domain

Technical Program ManagementCross-functional LeadershipRisk MitigationProgram ReportingPhase-gated DevelopmentMaturity-based DevelopmentSupply Chain ManagementLeadershipCommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkHardware DevelopmentProgram Management

About the role

Original posting from Oura via Greenhouse

Our mission at Oura is to empower every person to own their inner potential. Our award-winning products help our global community gain a deeper knowledge of their readiness, activity, and sleep quality by using their Oura Ring and its connected app. We've helped millions of people understand and improve their health by providing daily insights and practical steps to inspire healthy lifestyles.

Empowering the world starts with living our values and empowering our team. As a quickly growing company focused on helping people live healthier and happier lives, we ensure that our team members have what they need to do their best work — both in and out of the office. 

We’re looking for a Staff Technical Program Manager, Core Technologies to join our Hardware TPM team. This role focuses on maturing emerging technologies ahead of productization so they can be transferred into future NPI programs. You will lead multiple fast-moving initiatives across multiple system technologies leveraging your previous experience across component, module and system work in any number of engineering domains, .

This role will be located in San Francisco, California with in-office collaboration required, along with global travel to other offices and suppliers as needed.

What you will do

Lead multiple core technology initiatives, driving technical feasibility, risk reduction, and readiness for transfer into NPI programs

Partner closely with senior engineers, designers, supply managers, and other cross-functional leaders across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, science, sensing, silicon, materials, design, and adjacent spaces

Define scope, objectives, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and success criteria for each initiative

Establish development plans, decision points, and readiness criteria that clarify when a technology is ready to enter product development

Drive cross-functional alignment across all teams

Identify and mitigate technical, supply, schedule, and integration risks early to reduce downstream NPI risk

Lead early prototype builds, feasibility experiments, design-of-experiments, and other learning cycles needed to mature technologies

Provide clear program reporting on status, risks, decisions, open questions, and resource needs

Support external partners and vendors delivering development work or early capability builds where applicable

Help define and refine the core technology development process, including how technologies are incubated, matured, and transferred into NPI teams

Foster strong execution, open communication, and a collaborative, high-accountability working environment

Requirements

We would love to have you on our team if you have:

10+ years of experience leading complex cross-functional engineering or technology development efforts across disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, firmware, science, systems, manufacturing, and supply chain

Strong experience with new technologies, difficult integrations, or early-stage development programs

Demonstrated ability to lead work ahead of formal productization, including structuring ambiguous problems, planning technical work, and defining readiness

Experience driving multiple initiatives in parallel across different timelines, maturity levels, and stakeholder groups

Strong understanding of workflows and dependencies within and across engineering disciplines

Experience with phase-gated or maturity-based development models, including defining entry and exit criteria and the evidence needed for progression

Experience planning and executing design-of-experiments, prototypes, and learning cycles to inform technical decisions

Strong program management judgment, including prioritization, risk management, issue resolution, and executive communication

Proficiency with tools such as Linear, Confluence, and Smartsheet

Ability to build and improve processes and workflows

Curiosity, adaptability, and comfort operating in fast-moving environments

Willingness to travel up to 25–30% of the time

What we offer

At Oura, we care about you and your well-being. Everyone here at Oura has a ring of their own and we are continually looking to improve employee health.

Competitive salary and equity packages

Health, dental, vision insurance, and mental health resources

An Oura Ring of your own plus employee discounts for friends & family

20 days of paid time off plus 13 paid holidays plus 8 days of flexible wellness time off

Paid sick leave and parental leave

Oura takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location. US locations are categorized into tiers based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. While most offers will be closer to the starting range, successful candidates' pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, internal peer equity, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Region 1 $198,050 - $233,000

A recruiter can determine your zones/tiers based on your US location.

We are not considering candidates residing in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Oura is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals seeking employment at Oura are considered without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law, and we will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Disclaimer: Beware of fake job offers. Our jobs are listed only on the ŌURA Careers page and trusted job boards. We will never ask for personal information like ID or payment for equipment upfront. Official offers are sent through Docusign after a verbal offer, not via text or email.

Oura is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals seeking employment at Oura are considered without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Disclaimer: Beware of fake job offers!

We’ve been alerted to scammers posing as ŌURA recruiters, especially for remote roles. Please note:

Our jobs are listed only on the ŌURA Careers page and trusted job boards.

We will never ask for personal information like ID or payment for equipment upfront.

Official offers are sent through Docusign after a verbal offer, not via text or email.

Stay cautious and protect your personal details.

To all recruitment agencies: Oura does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Oura employees, or any other organization's location. Oura is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Source: Oura careers (Greenhouse)

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