Complex Operations Manager Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

We're looking for a Technical Operations Manager to join Wayve's Technical Operations function, acting as the critical bridge between Science, Product, Engineering, and Operations. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic, high-growth environments and has proven experience translating complex technical strategies into actionable field operations.

You'll lead critical testing and demonstration programs across our global operations-spanning roadshow campaigns, customer-specific programs, and on-road validation activities-working cross-functionally to ensure structured feedback loops between field operations and development teams. This role is key to our transformation from an R&D-focused operation to a world-class, delivery-grade commercial AV organization that can execute seamlessly with customers and partners.

Key responsibilities:

• Technical and Operations Enablement: Convert high-level program plans into clear, actionable on-road plans in partnership with Fleet Operations leadership, ensuring alignment on scheduling, safety, and operational feasibility across diverse testing requirements.
• Testing and Validation: Lead execution across internal-facing  and external-facing programs, coordinating between technical teams and operations to ensure seamless testing and validation execution while maintaining safety protocols and capturing valuable feedback.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Act as the connective tissue between model developers, researchers, product teams, and operations, ensuring two-way visibility and structured feedback loops that drive faster iteration on features, releases, and model performance.
• Operational Readiness: Collaborate closely with Fleet Operations to maintain consistent experiment design, vehicle availability, and process quality across testing programs, ensuring repeatable, high-quality delivery at scale.
• Continuous Improvement: Partner with Systems and Enablement teams to leverage fleet data, systems, and metrics for collaborative problem-solving and refinement of testing processes and internal tooling, quantifying improvements in operational performance.
• Innovation in Testing & Evaluation: Proactively brainstorm and explore new experimental methods (e.g., adversarial route selection, edge case testing concepts), fostering a culture of curiosity and bold experimentation to uncover insights that drive novel breakthroughs.
• Technical Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with model development teams, combining strategic thinking with practical operational expertise to maximize the value of every test, dataset, and feedback loop in support of commercial objectives.

In order to set you up for success as a Technical Operations Manager at Wayve, we're looking for the following skills and experience.  

Essential 

• Demonstrable' experience in technical program management or operations roles at the intersection of R&D, product development, and field testing in high-complexity environments (e.g., autonomous systems, robotics, aerospace, or advanced mobility).
• Proven track record of managing programs, demonstrations, or operations that require tight coordination between technical development teams and operational execution.
• Deep experience with test planning, operational readiness frameworks, and structured feedback loops between field operations and technical development teams.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills: able to lead cross-functional workshops and coordinate between Engineering, Science, Product, and Operations teams effectively.
• Proven ability to influence across teams and functions, including remote and international stakeholders in fast-paced technology environments.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills with experience creating technical documentation, SOPs, and stakeholder presentations.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 30% of the time to support on-site program coordination across testing regions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort working in ambiguous, rapidly evolving environments with competing priorities.

Desirable 

• Experience in autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, or field robotics operations.
• Exposure to automotive testing protocols, validation frameworks, or OEM partnership programs.
• Experience supporting scaling in global, distributed teams with complex technical dependencies.
• Experience with data analysis and performance tracking; able to build or interpret dashboards, identify operational bottlenecks, and quantify program improvements.
• Comfortable with project management tools such as Confluence, Asana/Jira, or equivalent, and experience implementing operational tracking systems.
• Background in process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) or operational excellence frameworks.
• Familiarity with vehicle commissioning processes, fleet management systems, or automotive safety protocols.

This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid) and the reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $171,000 to $229,000, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.