Vehicle Program Manager

Gatik


Date: 1 day ago
City: Detroit, MI
Contract type: Full time
Who we are

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world's first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation.

The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations.

About The Role

You will serve as the operational bridge between Gatik's internal teams and our manufacturing partners, ensuring alignment and flawless execution of truck builds from concept through production. If you have a strong background in automotive or industrial program management, thrive in hands-on, fast-paced environments, and are motivated by turning complex plans into real-world results, we'd love to connect with you.

What you'll do



  • Own end-to-end program management for truck builds at the manufacturing site, from prototype through to production ramp-up.
  • Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure timely delivery of vehicle builds.
  • Monitor schedules, manage risks, and resolve roadblocks to keep program timelines on track.
  • Communicate and manage expectations of stakeholders, including suppliers, and internal teams.
  • Track key program KPIs (e.g., production readiness, component availability, quality checkpoints) and drive continuous improvement.
  • Facilitate daily standups, weekly syncs, and cross-team reporting for real-time visibility and accountability.
  • Act as the on-the-ground liaison between Gatik's off-site team and manufacturing site personnel to resolve any bottlenecks quickly.
  • Prepare and present regular program updates to leadership, highlighting progress, challenges, and action plans.
  • Support build events, validation activities, and logistics planning related to vehicle production.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or a related technical field; PMP certification a plus
  • 10+ years of program management experience in automotive, manufacturing, or hardware-focused tech environments.
  • Strong understanding of vehicle manufacturing processes, supply chain dynamics, and product life cycles.
  • Proven ability to manage cross-functional programs and communicate effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
  • Ability to provide clear, well-structured, and concise communications.
  • Experience working on-site in a fast-paced, hands-on industrial environment.
  • Highly organized with excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt quickly to shifting priorities.
  • Proficiency with project management tools like JIRA, Asana, or MS Project.

More about Gatik

Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Mountain View, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability.

We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy. By choosing the middle mile – with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik's well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations.

Visit us at Gatik for more company information and Careers at Gatik for more open roles.

Notable News

  • Forbes: Forget robotaxis. Upstart Gatik sees middle-mile deliveries as the path to profitable AVs
  • Tech Brew: Gatik AI exec unpacks the regulations that could shape the AV industry
  • Business Wire: Gatik Paves the Way for Safe Driverless Operations ('Freight-Only') at Scale with Industry-First Third-Party Safety Assessment Framework
  • Auto Futures: Autonomous Trucking Group Gatik Secures Investment From NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS
  • Automotive News: Gatik foresees hundreds of self-driving trucks on road soon, and that's just the beginning
  • Forbes: Isuzu And Gatik Go All In To Scale Up Driverless Freight Services
  • Bloomberg: Autonomous Vehicle Startup Takes Off by Picking Off Easier Routes
  • Reuters: Driverless vehicles on limited routes bump along despite US robotaxi scrutiny

Taking care of our team

At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment's sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility.

We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status.

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