Sr. Technical Program Mgr, Software & Control

ESS Inc•Wilsonville, OR

19h

About The Position

ESS is seeking a Sr. Technical Program Manager, Software & Controls to drive strategic planning and execution across our software, controls, and systems engineering teams. This role owns end-to-end program planning, coordination, and delivery for complex, cross-functional development efforts, ensuring that timelines are realistic, cross-project dependencies are understood, and teams remain aligned to product roadmaps and company commitments as we deliver next-generation energy storage products. You will act as the central execution leader, integrating internal teams of engineers, architects, product leaders, and third-party partners into a cohesive program, proactively managing dependencies, resolving risks, optimizing costs, and synchronizing timelines to ensure business objectives are realized effectively and with emphasis on comprehensive quality. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and serves as the bridge between domain execution and enterprise program objectives. The ideal candidate is proactive, highly organized, technologically fluent, and comfortable managing competing priorities within teams and across the organization with senior leaders.

Requirements

Business mindset and the ability to develop and maintain an effective program strategy aligned to enterprise objectives
8-12+ years of experience in technical program management, project management, or engineering operations
Experience orchestrating complex, multi-team projects & program outputs in software, controls, or integrated hardware/software environments– relevant applications include automotive, aerospace, energy, or similar technical products
Strong working knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies and development workflows
Proven ability to manage cross-functional dependencies and external partners
Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Ability to operate independently in fast-paced, evolving environments
Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and follow-through
Ability to engage deeply and motivate technical teams without direct authority
Ability to deal with ambiguity and dynamic priorities

Nice To Haves

Experience in energy storage, power systems, EV, utilities, or similar industries
Background in hardware + software integrated product development, familiarity with software lifecycle management
Experience managing third-party engineering or software vendors
Familiarity with information management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Oracle Cloud, Fusion PLM
Proficiency with Excel and / or PowerBI

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end strategic planning and execution of software, controls, and integrated system testing programs
Develop and maintain integrated program plans, including milestones, dependencies, and risks
Lead Agile execution rhythms (sprint planning, backlog coordination, release tracking) across multiple teams
Drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, product, systems, and external partners
Serve as the primary coordination point for third-party development vendors, ensuring alignment to program timelines and deliverables
Identify, escalate, and resolve cross-team risks, blockers, and execution gaps
Synthesize program status into clear, actionable insights for leadership and PMO stakeholders
Run program reviews, standups, and status communications with a focus on accuracy and consistency
Ensure alignment between customer commitments, internal roadmaps, and enterprise milestones
Support translation of product and technical strategy into executable plans
Implement and reinforce program management tools, processes, and governance standards
Develop and maintain resource planning, forecasting, and program-level budgeting as needed
Drive continuous improvement in program execution, coordination, and reporting practices