New

Technical Program Manager, Government Affairs, Tesla AI

Tesla Motors, Inc.
96,800 - 168,000 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
Jul 29, 2026
What to Expect As a Technical Program Manager on the Tesla AI team focused on Government Affairs, you will drive cross-functional programs spanning regulatory engagement, investigation response, reporting obligations, and new policy review and outreach. You will partner closely with Legal, Government Affairs, Engineering, Safety, Operations, and global teams to define priorities, track execution, and remove blockers - ensuring Tesla's AI and autonomy programs meet regulatory expectations efficiently and at scale. This role sits at the intersection of technical depth, regulatory rigor, and operational excellence, and will have direct impact on Tesla's autonomous and AI initiatives. What You'll Do Lead end-to-end program management for Tesla AI government affairs initiatives spanning regulatory engagement, investigations, statutory and voluntary reporting, and policy review; define and maintain roadmaps, milestones, and success metrics across concurrent workstreams; and produce clear program status reports and executive summaries covering progress, blockers, regulatory exposure, and next steps Own investigation and regulatory inquiry workflows from intake, scoping, cross-functional data gathering, technical synthesis, stakeholder review, submission, to closeout - coordinating with Legal, Government Affairs, Engineering, Safety, and Operations to deliver high-quality, timely responses with clear ownership, SLAs, and auditability Track and drive fulfillment of ongoing reporting obligations to federal, state, and international regulators; surface risks early and drive resolutions across engineering and policy stakeholders Monitor, review, and assess new and proposed regulations, guidance, and standards relevant to AI and autonomy; translate policy implications into clear technical and operational requirements for internal teams Support regulatory engagement and outreach with government agencies, standards bodies, and industry partners; prepare briefing materials, technical summaries, and executive-ready narratives that accurately represent Tesla's AI systems and safety posture Identify process bottlenecks and drive improvements to scale investigation response, reporting, and policy review workflows; build and maintain tooling or scripts to automate program tracking, reporting calendars, obligation registers, and workflow coordination Serve as primary point of contact for US and global alignment on government affairs and regulatory deliverables; support vehicle and autonomy program launches by coordinating regulatory readiness milestones, and conduct or coordinate on-site reviews and operational assessments as needed (including travel to global facilities) What You'll Bring Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Public Policy, Law, Operations or equivalent experience 3+ years of technical program management, operations management, or regulatory program management experience, preferably in AI, autonomous vehicles, automotive, aerospace, or a high-growth technology environment Understanding of machine learning fundamentals, AI development workflows, and how technical systems map to regulatory and safety frameworks Experience managing regulatory engagement, investigations, compliance reporting, or policy analysis is a strong plus Familiarity with U.S. federal and state regulatory environments relevant to automotive and/or AI (e.g., NHTSA, state DMVs, or equivalent agencies); international regulatory experience is a plus Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills - including the ability to translate complex technical topics for legal, policy, and external government audiences Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, high-ambiguity environment with competing priorities and tight regulatory timelines Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a drive toward action Passion for the future of transportation and AI technologies Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits Company paid Basic Life, AD&D Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period) Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays Back-up childcare and parenting support resources Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs Tesla Babies program Commuter benefits Employee discounts and perks program Expected Compensation $96,800 - $168,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.