Primary Skills: Hardware NPI & Product Development (Expert), Cross-Functional Program Management (Expert), Manufacturing & Contract Manufacturer Management (Expert), Hardware Validation / DFM / DFA / DFT (Advanced), Supply Chain & Supplier Management (Advanced)
Contract Type: W2 Only
Duration: 3+ Months
Location: Santa Clara, CA – Onsite
Pay Range: $90 - $95 on W2
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager / NPI Program Manager to lead the development, manufacturing, and launch of X86 hardware appliances in partnership with global contract manufacturers. The ideal candidate will have strong experience managing complex hardware NPI programs, cross-functional engineering teams, manufacturing partners, supply chain organizations, and product lifecycle activities. This role requires a strong combination of technical expertise, program management, business acumen, and supplier management skills to drive products from development and prototyping through validation, production ramp, and post-launch qualification.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) programs for X86 hardware platforms, coordinating Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Compliance, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams.
- Develop and manage hardware development, prototyping, validation, integration, and production schedules aligned with software development milestones.
- Drive Hardware Validation, Product Characterization, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) activities while ensuring quality, reliability, cost, and schedule objectives are achieved.
- Establish phase-gate release criteria, track program readiness, identify risks and dependencies, and drive corrective actions through successful product launch.
- Partner with global contract manufacturers and suppliers to manage manufacturing readiness, PCB fabrication/assembly, order fulfillment, component availability, material planning, and new SKU/FRU readiness.
- Drive cost optimization, multi-sourcing, risk-buy recommendations, ECO implementation, supplier negotiations, BOM traceability, and post-ramp qualification activities.
Must-Have Skills:- 8+ years of experience in product development, hardware manufacturing, NPI, or technical program management environments.
- Proven experience managing cross-functional NPI programs for X86 hardware platforms or complex computing/hardware products.
- Strong knowledge of PCBA, hardware validation, Product Characterization, DFM, DFA, and DFT processes.
- Strong project management expertise including schedule management, risk assessment, issue tracking, cross-functional coordination, and program execution.
Nice-to-Have Skills:- Experience working with global contract manufacturers, suppliers, and printed circuit board fabrication/assembly organizations.
- Familiarity with product development tools such as Valor, Arena, Jira, and CAD.
- Experience with cost-reduction initiatives, should-cost modeling, multi-sourcing, ECOs, BOM management, and component traceability.
Preferred Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with contract negotiations, commercial discussions, supplier/material management, and supply chain operations.
- Strong entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate independently in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment while managing multiple programs.
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, mentorship, and executive-level communication across engineering and operations organizations.
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