Technical Automotive Program Manager

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About Us

Axelera AI is not your regular deep‑tech startup. We are creating the next‑generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advance humanity and improve the world around us. In just four years, we have raised a total of $120 million and built a world‑class team of 220+ employees, including 49+ PhDs, from 17 countries with offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands.

We launched our Metis™ AI Platform, which achieves a 3‑5× increase in efficiency and performance, and have a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million in projected revenue.

Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer.

Position Overview

As a Technical Program Manager at Axelera AI, you will manage the milestones and deliverables for our European consortium‑funded research and development programmes, including automotive projects. Your role focuses on overall programme coordination, external consortium representation, and ensuring alignment between Axelera’s internal development activities and funded programme requirements. You will report to the Director of Program Management and work closely with our Hardware and Software Program Managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements for multiple European consortium‑funded programmes, ensuring compliance with consortium obligations and timelines.
• Coordinate with Hardware and Software Program Managers to ensure funded programme deliverables are integrated into internal work packages and development roadmaps.
• Work with key engineering leaders across architecture, silicon, software, and integrated systems teams on programme‑specific tasks and deliverables, ensuring technical requirements are understood and addressed.
• Serve as Axelera’s primary representative to the consortium partners, project coordinators, and external stakeholders for these programmes.
• Deliver regular written and verbal progress updates as required by programme agreements, including periodic progress reports, deliverable documentation, and technical summaries.
• Attend in‑person consortium meetings, steering committees, and partner discussions across Europe to represent Axelera’s interests and maintain strong collaborative relationships.
• Track and report programme status, risks, and dependencies, escalating issues as needed to ensure programme success.
• Coordinate engagement with external suppliers and partners involved in the funded programmes, ensuring alignment on deliverables and timelines.
• Establish and maintain programme documentation, governance frameworks, and communication channels to support effective multi‑party collaboration.
• Work across internal teams to gather technical inputs, status updates, and deliverable content without duplicating planning activities managed by existing Program Managers.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of program management experience in a technology‑focused organisation, preferably in semiconductor, automotive, or AI domains.
• Familiarity with automotive development processes, supply chains, and industry standards.
• Proven experience managing European research or development programmes (e.g., Horizon Europe, ECSEL, national funding programmes) with multi‑partner consortia.
• Strong technical literacy in AI accelerator, system‑on‑chip, functional safety and software development lifecycles.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organisation professionally in multi‑stakeholder environments, building credibility and maintaining productive relationships.
• Experience working across matrixed organisations and coordinating activities without direct line authority, with the ability to manage by influence.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare formal reports, presentations, and deliverables for consortium submission.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced environment, proactively identifying issues and driving resolution.
• Strong focus on execution and delivery with meticulous attention to milestone tracking, reporting requirements, and deliverable quality.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Europe for consortium meetings, partner engagements, and project events.

Location

We offer a flexible working arrangement, with options to:

• Work from one of our Axelera AI offices (Leuven in Belgium, Amsterdam and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Zurich in Switzerland, Florence and Milan in Italy or Bristol in the United Kingdom) if you are already based in the vicinity.
• Work remotely from any European country (including the UK) you are already in.

Please note that priority will be given to candidates who are interested in being based in Italy and Germany.

What We Offer

• Compensation package, including pension plan, extensive employee insurances and the option to get company shares.
• An open culture that supports creativity and continual innovation.
• Collaborative ownership and freedom with responsibility.

At Axelera AI, we wholeheartedly embrace equal opportunity and hold diversity in the highest regard. Our steadfast commitment is to cultivate a warm and inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates every member of our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to join us in shaping the future of AI.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Project Management and Information Technology

Industries

Semiconductor Manufacturing

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