Program Manager, AV Safety Policy & Programs

Description

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.

Lyft is building the safety capability for autonomous mobility. As Program Manager, AV Safety Policy & Programs, you'll own key parts of Lyft's AV Safety Management System (SMS) across all four pillars: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. You'll also make sure the processes, documentation, and cross-functional machinery behind them work in practice.

This is a high-ownership role that sits at the intersection of safety policy, program design, and cross-functional process support. You'll author policy, run risk and review cadences, turn safety data into decisions, and keep the Safety Review Board (SRB) running. You'll work closely with AV partners, and you can speak credibly about AV safety with technical counterparts, senior leaders, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Safety Policy: Own Lyft's AV safety policy framework, safety procedures, and partner-facing governance documentation, including version control and periodic review cycles. Maintain governance charters, committee operating rhythms, and escalation protocols.
• Safety Risk Management: Run hazard identification and risk assessment for AV operations and new launches. Maintain the operational risk register and track mitigations to closure.
• Safety Assurance: Track safety performance indicators and trends, and surface emerging risks. Participate in incident and near-miss investigations and own corrective action (CAPA) tracking, so findings feed back into policy, operations, and partner work plans. Coordinate evidence and remediation for audits and certifications.
• Safety Promotion: Drive safety communications, lessons-learned documentation, and training readiness.
• Safety Review Board: Run the SRB cadence, including agendas, materials, decision records, and follow-through on action items.
• Partner Engagement: Contribute to the standards and assessment frameworks Lyft uses with AV partners, and support partners' safety assurance and risk management activities.
• Program Execution: Drive AV safety programs with safety leaders, including partners across EHS, Operations, Engineering, Legal, and others from inception through go-live. This includes safety readiness for new market launches and partner integrations.
• Experience:
• 4+ years supporting or managing safety management programs in a safety-critical transportation industry (AV, aviation, rail, automotive, trucking, or equivalent)
• Working knowledge of SMS principles and how they apply to AV operations
• Hands-on experience with risk assessment, incident follow-up, and corrective action tracking
• Strong technical writing, including policy, procedures, and partner- or regulator-facing materials
• Comfort with safety data, including tracking indicators, spotting trends, and presenting findings to technical and senior audiences
• Proven ability to run multi-stakeholder programs without direct authority
• Bachelor's degree in safety, engineering, policy, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Nice to Have
• Familiarity with AV safety frameworks (e.g., AVSC best practices) and US AV reporting requirements
• Experience supporting robotaxi, ridehail, or fleet operations
• Experience operating in a matrixed, partner-dependent environment where safety policy must be implemented through influence rather than direct control
• Exposure to multi-market or international safety operations

Benefits

• Great medical, dental, and vision insurance options with additional programs available when enrolled
• Mental health benefits
• Family building benefits
• Child care and pet benefits
• 401(k) plan with company match to help save for your future
• In addition to 12 observed holidays, salaried team members have discretionary paid time off, hourly team members have 15 days paid time off
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible
• Subsidized commuter benefits
• Monthly Lyft credits and complimentary Lyft Pink membership
• Lyft highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. This role will be in-office on a hybrid schedule — Team Members will be expected to work in the office 3 days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lyft considers working in the office at least 3 days per week to be an essential function of this hybrid role. Your recruiter can share more information about the various in-office perks Lyft offers. Additionally, hybrid roles have the flexibility to work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year. Hybrid
• The expected base pay range for this position in the San Francisco area is $108,000 - $135,000, not inclusive of potential equity offering, bonus or benefits. Salary ranges are dependent on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience and geographic location. Your recruiter can share more information about the salary range specific to your working location and other factors during the hiring process.