Director, Strategic Engineering Programs at Aptiv in USA Walnut Creek, CA

Job description

Hybrid On-Site: Walnut Creek, CA; San Diego, CA; Austin, TX; Troy, MI; Boston, MA; Kanata, Ontario, Canada Citizenship: USA National or Canada Citizen, without citizenship of another country ABOUT WIND RIVER Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River helps customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications industries solve complex technology challenges on their journey toward the new intelligent machine economy. The company’s software powers generation after generation of the safest, most secure systems in the world. Examples include playing a key role in NASA space missions such as Artemis I, the James Webb Space Telescope, and multiple Mars rovers. We’ve achieved recent 5G milestones including the world’s first successful 5G data session with Verizon and building one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world with Vodafone. The company has received industry recognition for its technology innovation and leadership, and for its workplace culture, including global Great Place to Work certification and being named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years. If you want to be part of a unique culture where the lived experience is based on our cultural attributes of growth mindset, customer-focus, and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, come join us and help advance the future software defined world. Role Summary Director , Strategic Engineering Programs Shape the agenda. Align Product and Engineering. Turn strategy into results. As a trusted advisor to the CVP of Engineering & Product, you will operate at the center of the organization's most critical priorities, helping shape strategy, drive executive decision-making, and accelerate execution across both Product Management and Engineering. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for ensuring product vision, investment priorities, customer needs, and engineering execution remain aligned. You will partner closely with Product and Engineering leaders to advance strategic initiatives, improve organizational effectiveness, and drive measurable business outcomes. Your Role • Partner with the CVP of Engineering & Product to drive strategic priorities, organizational alignment, and executive decision-making. • Serve as a strategic advisor across both Product Management and Engineering, helping connect product strategy, roadmap priorities, technology investments, and business objectives. • Lead a portfolio of high-impact, cross-functional initiatives spanning Product, Engineering, Go-to-Market, Customer Success, and other partner organizations. • Drive planning and alignment around product portfolio priorities, roadmap execution, resource tradeoffs, and investment decisions. • Facilitate executive reviews, strategic planning, roadmap discussions, and leadership operating rhythms. • Shape executive communications, Board materials, and strategic narratives that communicate progress, priorities, and business impact. • Anticipate risks, resolve cross-functional issues, and accelerate progress on the organization's highest-priority initiatives. Your Background • 10+ years of leadership experience in strategy, product strategy, business operations, consulting, chief of staff, program leadership, or related fields. • Proven experience partnering closely with executive leaders in product and technology organizations. • Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide strategic and transformational initiatives. • Strong understanding of Product Management, product development lifecycles, and engineering operating models. • Exceptional communication, executive influence, and stakeholder management skills. • Ability to drive alignment and outcomes across functions without direct authority. Success in This Ro