Job Description – NPI Program Manager

Position Summary

The NPI Program Manager is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of new product introduction programs, from concept through development, industrialization, and production ramp. This role ensures that products are launched on time, within cost, and at target quality, by orchestrating cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality.

The NPI PM acts as the single point of accountability for program execution and serves as the bridge between product development and manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead NPI programs from concept to volume production
• Define program scope, objectives, milestones, and deliverables
• Build and maintain integrated program plans (WBS, schedules, roadmap)
• Drive execution to meet cost, schedule, quality, and performance targets
• Ensure transition from development to manufacturing readiness

2. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Lead and align global cross-functional teams:
  • Silicon / HW / SW engineering
  • Product management
  • Manufacturing & test
  • Supply chain & procurement
  • Quality & reliability
• Act as the central communication hub across stakeholders and executives

3. NPI Process & Industrialization

• Drive NPI lifecycle phases:
  • Concept & feasibility
  • Design & development
  • Prototyping / validation (EVT/DVT/PVT)
  • Manufacturing ramp
• Drive Design for Excellence to ensure first-time-right product industrialization, optimizing manufacturability, testability, cost, and supply chain readiness
• Manage product build plans, pilot runs, and validation activities

4. Manufacturing & Supply Chain Readiness

• Ensure:
  • Component readiness and supplier alignment
  • Manufacturing capacity and tooling readiness
  • Test and production flows are qualified
• Coordinate ramp planning and global factory readiness
• Optimize cost, yield, and cycle time during ramp-up

5. Risk & Issue Management

• Identify, track, and mitigate/remove program risks
• Lead resolution of cross-functional issues (technical, supply, schedule)
• Escalate critical issues and drive recovery plans

6. Financial & Resource Management

• Manage program budget, cost tracking, and forecasting
• Drive cost optimization and margin targets
• Allocate and manage resources across multiple workstreams

7. Governance & Reporting

• Lead program governance (phase reviews, gate reviews, exec updates)
• Provide clear, data-driven status reporting to leadership
• Ensure compliance with internal processes and product lifecycle standards

Key Deliverables (Typical NPI Outputs)

• Program charter, roadmap, and WBS
• Integrated schedule (milestones, critical path)
• Product build plans and validation reports
• Manufacturing readiness and ramp plans
• Risk registers and mitigation plans
• Cost model / BOM evolution
• Post-launch performance metrics (yield, quality, cost)
• Formal Lessons Learned report at key milestones

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Semiconductor, SW or related
• 5–10+ years in program/project management in high-tech or manufacturing environment
• Proven experience in NPI / product development lifecycle management
• Strong understanding of:
  • Manufacturing processes and supply chain
  • Product development lifecycle (HW/SW systems)
  • Semiconductor or electronics industry (preferred)

Core Skills

• Program leadership & execution excellence
• Strong cross-functional influence (matrix organization)
• Advanced planning & scheduling (WBS, critical path)
• Risk management & problem-solving
• Financial acumen (cost, budget, ROI)
• Excellent communication with technical and executive stakeholders
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and fast-paced environments

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• On-time product launch (milestone adherence)
• Cost vs. target / margin achievement
• Product quality (yield, reliability)
• Production ramp efficiency
• Customer satisfaction / business impact

Typical Reporting Line

• Reports to: Director / Sr Director Program Management or Operations
• Interfaces extensively with:
  • Engineering leadership
  • Operations / manufacturing
  • Supply chain
  • Business units

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