Who we are
Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud, which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. At Samsara, we are helping improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the physical operations that power our global economy. Representing more than 40% of global GDP, these industries are the infrastructure of our planet, including agriculture, construction, field services, transportation, and manufacturing — and we are excited to help digitally transform their operations at scale.
Working at Samsara means you’ll help define the future of physical operations and be on a team that’s shaping an exciting array of product solutions, including Video-Based Safety, Vehicle Telematics, Apps and Driver Workflows, and Equipment Monitoring. As part of a recently public company, you’ll have the autonomy and support to make an impact as we build for the long term.
About the role
Samsara's Sr. Manager, Engineering Program Management leads the hardware EPM team that takes new devices from concept through mass production and general availability. You will own the launch system for the hardware portfolio: the development process, the OK2 gate reviews, the xVT build plan, and the single cross-functional schedule from investigation through PVT and GA. Your team partners daily with EE, PD, Firmware, Full Stack, Reliability, Compliance, Product Management, Operations Program Management, Supply Chain, and our JDM partners in Taiwan and China.
This is a player-coach role. You will hire, develop, and lead a team of Engineering Program Managers across the US and Taiwan, and you will personally drive our most complex or highest-risk program when the business needs it. You report to the VP of Hardware Engineering.
Hardware Engineering at Samsara runs a leveraged model: a lean internal team paired with JDM partners and AI tooling rather than headcount. We expect this leader to treat AI as a core part of how the EPM discipline operates, not an add-on. You will set the standard for how program managers use AI agents and automation to run programs, and you will be measured on the adoption and results that follow.
This is a hybrid position open to candidates residing in the US who are willing to work in our San Francisco, CA office three days a week. This position requires travel up to 25% of the time, including international travel to Taiwan and China, and proximity to an international airport. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this role.
You should apply if
- You want to impact the industries that run our world: Your efforts will result in real-world impact, helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, reduce emissions, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
- You are the architect of your own career: If you put in the work, this role won't be your last at Samsara. We set up our employees for success and have built a culture that encourages rapid career development, countless opportunities to experiment and master your craft in a hyper growth environment.
- You're energized by our opportunity: The vision we have to digitize large sectors of the global economy requires your full focus and best efforts to bring forth creative, ambitious ideas for our customers.
- You want to be with the best: At Samsara, we win together, celebrate together and support each other. You will be surrounded by a high-calibre team that will encourage you to do your best.
In this role, you will
Lead the EPM team
- Hire, develop, and lead an inclusive, engaged, and high-performing team of Engineering Program Managers in the US and Taiwan. Set clear expectations against the TPM/EPM leveling framework and coach each EPM to the next level.
- Assign EPMs to programs based on complexity and risk, rebalance as the portfolio shifts, and step in personally to drive the most complex or highest-risk program when needed.
- Build the recruiting pipeline, interview loop, and onboarding plan that let the team scale without lowering the bar.
Own the hardware launch system
- Own the end-to-end hardware development process from investigation and concept through EVT, DVT, PVT, and GA, and tailor it per program so small programs stay light and large programs stay controlled.
- Run the OK2 gate reviews (OK2Concept through OK2FCS) with the VP of Hardware Engineering and Hardware Product Management, and hold the organization to the entry and exit criteria for each gate.
- Own the integrated program schedule across HW, FW, SW, reliability, compliance, and supply chain, including the xVT build plan, build allocations, and JDM deliverables through PVT.
- Set the standard for program status, risk, and decision communication to executives, and run the weekly hardware project review and steering forums.
Deliver programs
- Deliver new hardware programs on schedule, at target cost, and at target quality. Make performance, quality, cost, and time-to-market trade-offs explicit in every status update and gate decision.
- Manage JDM and CM partner engagement across the development phases, from RFQ through PVT handoff to Operations Program Management.
- Partner with Product Management, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Compliance, and Finance so that program goals, business cases, and launch commitments stay aligned as programs evolve.
- Identify ways to shorten time to market, improve first-pass build yields, and reduce development cost, and drive those improvements across the portfolio rather than one program at a time.
Make AI how the team works
- Use AI tools daily to synthesize program data across Slack, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, and meeting transcripts; to draft status, risk, and decision documents; and to analyze schedule, cost, and quality data. Validate AI output critically before it reaches stakeholders. You own the result, not the model.
- Own adoption and results of AI tooling across the EPM discipline, including the hardware EPM agent that drafts meeting notes, action items, status reports, Confluence updates, and schedule changes for EPM review. Own its roadmap and extend it into risk detection, schedule analysis, and build readiness.
- Design, deploy, and iterate AI agents, skills, and automations that remove manual coordination work from program management. Treat AI as a productivity lever before headcount, quantify the hours removed, and reinvest that time into risk management and technical depth.
- Set the baseline AI fluency expectation for every EPM on the team, coach to it, and include it in performance and development conversations. Share patterns, prompts, and agent designs across Hardware Engineering and the wider R&D program management community.
- Report AI adoption and outcomes (usage, hours saved, cycle-time or quality improvements) to Hardware Engineering leadership on a regular cadence.
Champion Samsara's culture
- Champion, role model, and embed Samsara's Operating Principles as we scale globally and across new offices.
Minimum requirements for the role
- 12+ years of experience shipping high-volume hardware programs at scale with ODM and JDM partners overseas, taking products from concept through mass production.
- 4+ years of experience managing and developing engineering program managers, including hiring, performance management, and coaching across levels.
- Proven ownership of a hardware product development process (phase gates, xVT builds, design reviews, PVT handoff) and the judgment to standardize it where it helps and tailor it where it does not.
- Strong engineering background with the ability to understand and challenge trade-offs across electrical, mechanical, firmware, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
- Demonstrated hands-on use of AI tools in your own program management work, and at least one example of an AI workflow, agent, or automation you designed and deployed for a team.
- Executive communication skills: concise written and verbal status, risk, and decision communication to VP and C-level stakeholders.
- Expertise with program planning tools (Smartsheet or Microsoft Project), Jira and Confluence, and PLM systems for BOM and ECO management.
- Ability to travel internationally up to 25% of the time.
- BS in a relevant technical field such as EE, ME, or CS, or equivalent experience.
An ideal candidate also has
- Worked as an EE, ME, or firmware individual contributor on hardware programs before moving into program management.
- Shipped dash cameras, telematics gateways, asset trackers, or other ruggedized, cellular-connected IoT devices with embedded AI/ML.
- Built or led an AI agent, Cursor skill, or automation program adopted by a team beyond your own, with measured results.
- Led distributed teams across the US and Taiwan or China, and worked directly with Taiwan-based JDM design centers and factories.
- Experience bringing firmware and hardware development onto a single integrated schedule, including OTA readiness at launch.
- MS in a technical field or an MBA.
The compensation range shown spans approved pay zones for this role. Your primary work location determines the range applicable to you, which may be narrower than the full range displayed.
The range of annual base salary for full-time employees for this position is below. Please note that base pay offered may vary depending on factors including your city of residence, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is also eligible for an initial RSU grant with no vesting cliff, and ongoing refresh opportunities tied to performance, subject to plan terms and conditions. Learn more about our total rewards and benefits below.
Annual Base Salary$193,600—$242,000 USD
Total Rewards
At Samsara, we build for the people who keep the global economy moving. We want owners, not passengers, which is why our rewards are designed to fuel high-impact builders. Our compensation program delivers above-market total compensation through a combination of base salary, performance-based bonus/variable pay, and equity (for eligible roles) in a high-growth public company. We meaningfully differentiate pay for our top performers, who have the opportunity to earn above-market compensation that can outpace the broader market over time.
Beyond compensation, we provide the foundations that enable long-term success: a flexible, employee-led remote model, a professional development stipend, comprehensive health and parental leave plans, and more. If you’re ready to build for the long term and own the outcome, your journey starts here.
Flexible Working
At Samsara, we embrace a flexible working model that caters to the diverse needs of our teams. Our offices are open for those who prefer to work in-person and we also support remote work where it aligns with our operational requirements. For certain positions, being close to one of our offices or within a specific geographic area is important to facilitate collaboration, access to resources, or alignment with our service regions. In these cases, the job description will clearly indicate any working location requirements. Our goal is to ensure that all members of our team can contribute effectively, whether they are working on-site, in a hybrid model, or fully remotely. All offers of employment are contingent upon an individual’s ability to secure and maintain the legal right to work at the company and in the specified work location, if applicable.
Belonging at Samsara
At Samsara, we welcome everyone regardless of their background. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, and other characteristics protected by law. We depend on the unique approaches of our team members to help us solve complex problems and want to ensure that Samsara is a place where people from all backgrounds can make an impact.
Accommodations
Samsara is an inclusive work environment, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. Please email accessibleinterviewing@samsara.com or click here if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruiting process.
Our Commitment to Authenticity
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Fraudulent Employment Offers
Samsara is aware of scams involving fake job interviews and offers. Please know we do not charge fees to applicants at any stage of the hiring process. Official communication about your application will only come from emails ending in @samsara.com, @us-greenhouse-mail.io or @mail3.guide.co. For more information regarding fraudulent employment offers, please visit our blog post here.
