Tactical Development Operations Lead

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge.

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We are seeking a highly experienced and mission-driven night shift leader based in Palmer, Texas, with as-needed travel across testing locations to provide direct, night-to-night leadership for our Tactical Development (TACT DEV) Operators. This role is critical to the success of our off-site and travel-based development testing. Because the TACT DEV team travels 90% of the time, this leader acts as the "anchor," ensuring that geographically dispersed operators remain synchronized with Aurora’s development goals, safety protocols, and company culture.

The ideal candidate thrives in a high-tempo environment and is passionate about building a cohesive, high-performing team culture among individuals who rarely spend time in the same physical space. This position requires exceptional leadership, a safety-first focus, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, requiring strong coordination with stakeholders across operations, software, and hardware.

This role operates on a dedicated Monday through Friday night shift (4:00 PM to 12:30 AM). Please note that this position requires a mandatory 4 days per week in-office, working between the Palmer, TX terminal and the Aurora Dallas office.

• Serve as the Team Lead for development testing, executing daily deployment plans to ensure scheduled timelines are met and performing in-field tasks alongside the team to maintain operational momentum.
• Develop a deep understanding of Aurora’s testing requirements and software/hardware development goals to serve as the first line of support for operators, answering questions on complex test plans and ensuring data collection aligns with engineering needs.
• Remove road-blocks in scheduling and availability by coordinating with Maintenance and Fleet Ops cross functional stakeholders on asset availability.
• Maintain a willingness to travel heavily through connecting with your team in the field across a variety of working environments.
• Step into the vehicle as an operator SME to support our onboarding and remedial training practices, while maintaining a first-hand understanding of the required in-field workflow.
• Provide emergency coverage to prevent testing gaps, including supporting truck start-up/shut-down, troubleshooting, and in-vehicle testing support such as Vehicle Release Testing and Aurora Tooling Tests.
• Build and maintain a positive, unified team culture for a 90% travel workforce, developing creative ways to keep remote operators engaged and aligned with Aurora’s mission.
• Oversee the specialized requirements of a CDL-holding workforce, including monitoring Hours of Service (HOS), leading Driver Monitoring System (DMS) coaching, and facilitating internal safety event reviews.
• Facilitate daily handoffs and status updates between the field team and stakeholders in Engineering and Operations, ensuring all technical documentation and data are delivered accurately and on time.
• Oversee and audit technical execution of field activities to ensure strict adherence to global SOPs and safety protocols.
• Provide regular, informal feedback…