Technical Program Manager, Hardware Development

Technical Program Manager, Hardware Development
Location: Fully Remote (PST hours) - US Only
Contract Duration: 12-month engagement
Employment Type: CW - W2, 40 hours/week, Monday–Friday
Pay Rate: $85 - $90/hr on W2

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager III to support the development of next-generation consumer electronics hardware. In this role, you will partner closely with Hardware Design TPMs, engineering teams, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive hardware development programs from design convergence through manufacturing readiness.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of consumer electronics product development, hardware engineering processes, manufacturing, tooling, validation, and supplier management. You will be responsible for driving complex engineering deliverables, managing hardware component readiness, building development schedules, identifying program risks, and ensuring cross-functional teams remain aligned against critical milestones.

This is an opportunity to contribute to an exciting smart glasses program focused on enabling new AI-powered experiences, while working on products in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving technology space.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Hardware Design TPMs and engineering teams to coordinate and drive critical hardware design deliverables, including specifications, Design of Experiments (DOE), validation plans, and build requirements.
• Drive product design convergence and design lock, ensuring engineering teams are aligned on requirements, dependencies, and technical decisions.
• Coordinate Design for Manufacturing (DFM) activities and OK2Fab readiness to ensure designs meet manufacturing requirements.
• Manage hardware component delivery and material readiness for development and system builds.
• Work closely with suppliers and manufacturing partners to track tooling, component lead times, production readiness, and other critical dependencies.
• Develop and maintain detailed development, delivery, qualification, and build schedules based on system requirements, technical challenges, lead times, and business priorities.
• Define and manage DOE and Build Matrix planning, coordinating engineering activities required for design validation and characterization.
• Drive hardware engineering deliverables and ensure critical milestones are achieved on schedule.
• Establish program structure, operating mechanisms, documentation, and reporting processes that provide clarity to engineering teams and leadership.
• Track program top issues, risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans.
• Provide regular written and verbal status updates, clearly communicating progress, blockers, risks, and potential schedule impacts.
• Coordinate communication across engineering, operations, product, manufacturing, suppliers, and other external partners.
• Ensure program documentation is complete, accurate, current, and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Support smart glasses program planning and build strategy, including development builds and manufacturing milestones.
• Identify potential setbacks early, including supplier constraints, tooling schedules, design sprints, material availability, and engineering dependencies.
• Drive alignment across multiple teams and programs while balancing technical, schedule, and business priorities.

Scope of Work & Key Deliverables

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving or supporting:

• Product design convergence and design lock
• DFM and OK2Fab readiness
• Material drives to system builds
• DOE and Build Matrix definition and planning
• Hardware engineering deliverable schedules
• Hardware development and qualification milestones
• Supplier and manufacturing readiness
• Program top issue and risk tracking
• Smart glasses program planning and build strategy
• Cross-functional program communication and executive-level status reporting

Must-Have Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in hardware engineering or technical program management within consumer electronics hardware.
• Demonstrated experience managing consumer electronics product development programs from design through manufacturing or production readiness.
• Experience working with a large number of cross-functional partners, including engineering and other technical stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of hardware development processes, including product design, manufacturing, validation, tooling, and engineering builds.
• Ability to create and manage detailed technical schedules, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Strong program execution skills with demonstrated experience identifying risks, tracking top issues, and driving teams toward resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear and concise regular program status updates.
• Ability to operate effectively across multiple teams and programs in a fast-paced product development environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical experience is preferred.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience managing overseas hardware suppliers and external manufacturing partners.
• Experience working with ODM, JDM, and CM vendor engagement models.
• Experience with phase-gate product development methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical system development, DFM, tooling, validation, characterization, or manufacturing processes.
• Prior experience working directly as a hardware engineer before transitioning into program management.
• Experience managing supplier tooling schedules, component qualification, and manufacturing readiness.
• Experience supporting complex consumer hardware products with multiple development builds.
• Experience working with a large ecosystem of engineering, manufacturing, operations, and external supplier partners.
• Previous experience at major technology or consumer electronics companies 
• Experience supporting wearables, smart glasses, AR/VR, connected devices, or other highly integrated consumer electronics products.
• Senior-level experience managing complex technical programs with significant cross-functional dependencies.

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation. #TMMT