Technical Automotive Program Manager

Technical Automotive Program Manager – Axelera AI

Axelera AI is not your regular deep‑tech startup. We are creating the next‑generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us.

In just four years we have raised $120 million, built a world‑class team of 220+ employees (including 49+ PhDs with more than 40 000 citations), and launched our Metis™ AI Platform, achieving a 3‑5x increase in efficiency and performance. With a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million, we have transformed the industry and are headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

As a Technical Program Manager you will manage milestones and deliverables for Axelera’s European consortium‑funded research and development programmes, including automotive projects. You will coordinate with our Hardware and Software Program Managers, integrate funded programme deliverables into internal work packages, and represent Axelera to external consortium partners, project coordinators, and suppliers.

• 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 integrate funded programme deliverables into internal work packages and development roadmaps.
• Work with key engineering leaders across architecture, silicon, software, and integrated systems teams on program‑specific tasks and deliverables, ensuring technical requirements are understood and addressed.
• Serve as Axelera’s primary representative to consortium partners, project coordinators and external stakeholders.
• 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.

• 3‑5 years of technical or project/programme management experience within 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 understanding of AI accelerator, system‑on‑chip, functional safety and software development life cycles.
• 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.

We offer a flexible working arrangement:

• Work from one of our offices (Leuven in Belgium, Amsterdam and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Zurich in…