Staff Commercial Program Manager, Hardware, Compute and Network Systems

We're Cruise, a self-driving service designed for the cities we love.

We’re building the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles to safely connect people to the places, things, and experiences they care about. We believe self-driving vehicles will help save lives, reshape cities, give back time in transit, and restore freedom of movement for many.

In our cars, you’re free to be yourself. It’s the same here at Cruise. We’re creating a culture that values the experiences and contributions of all of the unique individuals who collectively make up Cruise, so that every employee can do their best work. 

Cruise is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, both in our workplace and in our products. If you are looking to play a part in making a positive impact in the world by advancing the revolutionary work of self-driving cars, come join us. Even if you might not meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply. You might just be the right candidate for us.

At Cruise, you will have opportunities to grow and develop while learning from leaders at the cutting-edge of their fields. With a culture of internal mobility, there's opportunity to thrive in a variety of disciplines. This is a place for dreamers and doers to succeed. If you are looking to help solve one of today’s most complex engineering challenges, see the results of your work in hundreds of self-driving cars, and make a positive impact in the world starting in our cities, join us.

As a Staff Commercial Program Manager, you will play a critical role in managing and developing relationships with tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers, driving cost reductions, and ensuring smooth commercial operations. You will be responsible for negotiating contracts, resolving supplier issues, and promoting Cruise as a preferred partner. Join our dynamic and innovative team and play a pivotal role in driving our commercial success and ensuring robust supplier relationships. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in the automotive technology sector while working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and nurture relationships with OEM, tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers through regular visits, meetings, and effective communication.
• Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers, resolving cost-related and other supplier issues to ensure project timing and cost goals are met.
• Drive cost reductions by identifying opportunities, implementing strategies, and collaborating with suppliers to achieve savings goals.
• In partnership with hardware engineering, develop detailed statements of work (SOW) for suppliers, clearly defining project deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations.
• Coordinate on-site and remote meetings with suppliers to review project progress, address challenges, and develop effective collaboration.
• Promote Cruise as a preferred partner to suppliers, highlighting our company's competitive advantages and fostering long-term partnerships with critical suppliers.
• Conduct initial vetting of potential new suppliers, evaluating their capabilities, qualifications, and compatibility with Cruise's business objectives.
• Create roadmaps for key suppliers, outlining strategic objectives, milestones, and performance metrics to align their efforts with Cruise's goals.
• Work with our SIlicon, Sensor, Purchasing teams to build a strong autonomous driving solution 

What you must have:

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field is required.
• Proven experience in the technology and/or automotive industry, ideally in a similar role, for at least 10 years.
• Possess strong soft skills, including excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation abilities.
• Proactive and self-driven, with a demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.
• A natural relationship builder with the ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers.
• Sound knowledge of commercial negotiations, contract management, and global supplier relationship and performance management.
• Self-starting mentality and strong teamwork and enjoy working on a variety of projects simultaneously.
  

Bonus points!

• Background in and familiarity with automotive industry trends, supply chain dynamics, and cost reduction strategies.
• Experience in autonomous driving technology, aware of the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning trends
  
  

The salary range for this position is $170,000 - 250,000. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. You may also be offered a bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. The