Program Manager, AV Technical Operations

About this role

At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive. Flexdrive is a subsidiary of Lyft that works together with Lyft teams to realize our shared mission.

At Flexdrive, we're at the forefront of revolutionizing transportation by building the operational backbone for autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets. As a leader in fleet management, we're leveraging our expertise to enter the AV space, forming strategic partnerships with cutting-edge technology providers. We're looking for dedicated team members to help us pioneer this new chapter.

About the Role

As the Program Manager, AV Fleet Technical Services, your focus is on the 0-to-1 build-out and innovation of our internal AV technical service operations. Rather than managing the operational execution,you will lead the cross-functional design, launch, and strategic structuring of our AV service depots. You will establish program governance, build the physical and digital infrastructure, author operational playbooks, and partner with the People team to recruit and train our founding technical workforce. Ultimately, your goal is to transition a turnkey facility—complete with an elite, AV-certified technical team—to the internal Fleet Repair Ops team.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Governance & Operational Handoff: Establish rigorous project management organization, operating rhythms, and cross-functional stakeholder reporting. Own master launch timelines, critical path dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies for all new depot build-outs. Define strict operational readiness ("go-live") criteria and lead the formal handoff to the Fleet Repair Ops team.

• Technician Recruiting Collaboration: Partner closely with the Recruiting team to define the AV technician hiring profile. Establish competency benchmarks and execute a targeted recruitment plan to attract and hire the founding technical workforce for the new facilities.

• Training Plan Development: Collaborate cross-functionally with the Fleet Repair Ops team to design, build, and implement a comprehensive technical training and certification program. Ensure all technicians are fully trained on AV systems, high-voltage safety, and proprietary diagnostic tools before the facility goes live.

• Repair Process Development: Develop, document, and continuously optimize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Translate AV/EV and OEM technical requirements into streamlined, highly efficient repair workflows for the shop floor.

• Infrastructure, Tooling & Procurement: Collaborate with Real Estate to strategically design maintenance bays. Partner with Procurement to specify, source, and manage specialized High-Voltage/AV repair tooling and equipment that optimizes shop floor efficiency and adheres to OEM requirements. Negotiate strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with external fleet vendor providers, equipment vendors, and OEM platforms.

• Parts Management & IT Systems: Partner closely with IT and Tech teams to architect and stand up a scalable parts management software and inventory control system. Ensure seamless integration with existing Fleet Management Systems (FMS) for the tracking of high-value AV components and daily consumables.

• Strategic Finance & Biz Ops: Collaborate tightly with Biz Ops and Finance to develop strategic financial models for facility stand-ups. Forecast CapEx/OpEx, model ROI for tooling investments, and build foundational reporting dashboards to track operational efficiency (FTFR, Cycle Time) during the launch phase.

• Innovation & Scalability: Develop and continuously refine a scalable launch playbook that integrates innovative repair technologies and next-generation SOPs, enabling the potential for rapid future market expansion.

• Safety & Compliance Integration: Partner with Regulatory and EHS teams to ensure 100% compliance with AV technical standards, overseeing High Voltage (HV) safety protocols (NFPA 70E, LOTO) and hazardous waste management.

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of program management or operational leadership within the Autonomous Vehicle (AV), Electric Vehicle (EV), or Advanced Mobility sectors.

• The "Builder" Mindset: Proven experience launching new service centers from scratch. Must possess deep expertise in managing complex launch timelines, facility layouts, permitting, and equipment procurement.

• Technical Depth: Solid understanding of AV sensor systems (lidar, radar, cameras), EV high-voltage systems, and automotive service operations to effectively build technical frameworks.

• Operational Rigor: Proficiency managing high-velocity operations using data, Fleet Management Systems (FMS), ticketing systems, and data visualization (Tableau/Excel).

• Travel: Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, particularly during peak depot launch phases.

Bonus…