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Hayden AI is transforming transit systems and government agencies through computer vision and mobile perception technology. The company develops innovative solutions for bus lane enforcement, bus stop enforcement, transportation optimization, and street safety.
The Principal Technical Program Manager, Hardware will lead the development and execution of a portfolio of hardware programs, driving strategy into roadmaps and plans that deliver critical work on time and at high quality. This role bridges executive business goals with technical execution across the entire product lifecycle.
Key responsibilities include:
• Strategic Execution: Drive end-to-end delivery of enterprise engineering programs, translating business objectives into technical execution.
• Edge AI & On-Vehicle Systems: Partner with Perception and Platform engineering teams to ensure hardware programs account for the full edge inference stack—thermal envelope, compute constraints, sensor integration, and field serviceability—so AI system requirements drive hardware decisions from inception.
• Advanced R&D & Technology Incubation: Lead early-stage R&D efforts, including proof-of-concepts and rigorous evaluation of next-generation components, shaping N+1 and N+2 product roadmaps.
• Phase Gate & Milestone Governance: Define, implement, and enforce phase gate reviews and program milestones across the hardware lifecycle, ensuring cross-functional readiness, quality standards, and executive alignment before advancing to subsequent phases.
• NPI Lifecycle & Manufacturing: Drive the end-to-end New Product Introduction process (EVT, DVT, PVT) and oversee vendor delivery to ensure seamless transition from prototype to mass production.
• Requirements & Scope Definition: Translate field feedback, customer deployment constraints, and regulatory requirements into clear hardware specifications, and maintain scope discipline as program objectives evolve.
REQUIREMENTS:
• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering discipline
• 12+ years in Hardware Technical Program Management or Engineering Program Management
• Led 5+ multi-disciplinary hardware products from 0-to-1 through production
• Deep knowledge of NPI lifecycle (EVT, DVT, PVT, MP), phase gate governance, and CM/supplier management
• Experience with hardware reliability, regulatory compliance (FCC, CE), and supply chain risk management
• Strong technical foundation in embedded systems, hardware/software integration, or computer vision systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience with on-vehicle, edge-deployed, or ruggedized hardware
• Background in autonomous systems, robotics, or AI/ML hardware programs
• Experience delivering technology to government or municipal clients
• Familiarity with DFX methodologies (DFA, DFI, DFS)
