NPI Program/Project Manager (IV)

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build, and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips—the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world—like AI and IoT.

About the role

The NPI Program/Project Manager is responsible for leading the operational commercialization and manufacturing readiness of new products from concept through pilot production and transition to High Volume Manufacturing (HVM). This role serves as the primary interface between Business Units, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations to ensure successful product introduction, accelerated development timelines, and achievement of manufacturing readiness milestones. The successful candidate will provide a holistic view of program execution, drive cross-functional alignment, identify and mitigate risks, develop commercialization plans, and ensure all productization deliverables are completed on schedule, within scope, and aligned with business objectives. This role is ideal for a highly collaborative leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys transforming innovative product concepts into scalable manufacturing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership & Commercialization
  • Act as the primary Operations Program Manager and escalation point for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.
  • Lead commercialization activities supporting Product Lifecycle - PDP, PDP-Lite, and other strategic new product initiatives.
  • Develop and manage comprehensive program plans, schedules, milestones, and transition roadmaps from pilot manufacturing through HVM.
  • Create and maintain the Plan of Record (POR), Operations Requirements Specification (ORS), and detailed productization plans.
  • Ensure alignment between business objectives, product development milestones, and manufacturing readiness deliverables.
• Cross-Functional Team Management
  • Establish and coordinate cross-functional teams consisting of Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Test Engineering, Quality, Product Engineering, Operations, and Program Management.
  • Lead regular program reviews, readiness assessments, and risk management discussions.
  • Drive accountability across functional owners to ensure closure of program deliverables and issue resolution.
  • Communicate program status, risks, mitigation plans, and executive updates to stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Manufacturing Readiness
  • Drive Phase 2 and Phase 3 manufacturing readiness deliverables, including:
    • Manufacturing strategy development
    • Design for Manufacturability (DfM/DfX) reviews
    • Manufacturing tooling plans
    • Test strategy definition
    • Preliminary BOM and product structure readiness
    • Packaging and logistics planning
    • Pilot manufacturing preparation
  • Monitor readiness scorecards and ensure successful milestone exits and gate reviews.
  • Partner with Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful pilot builds and smooth transition to HVM.
• Supply Chain & Sourcing Strategy
  • Collaborate with Material Program Managers (MPMs) to develop sourcing strategies, dual-source plans, and mitigation of single-source risks.
  • Monitor long-lead materials, supplier readiness, capacity constraints, and commercialization costs.
  • Support integrated supply chain planning and manufacturing cost objectives.
• Risk Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify program, operational, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain risks.
  • Develop and drive mitigation plans to address schedule, cost, resource, and readiness gaps.
  • Lead program risk assessments and readiness scoring activities.
  • Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives across NPI processes.
• Executive Communication
  • Prepare and present program updates, readiness dashboards, transition plans, and business reviews to senior leadership.
  • Influence decision-making by balancing strategic objectives with tactical execution requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 8–10+ years of experience in Program Management, Project Management, New Product Introduction (NPI), Manufacturing Engineering, or Operations leadership roles.
• Experience leading cross-functional product development and commercialization programs.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, phase-gate methodologies, and manufacturing readiness requirements.
• Proven experience managing complex programs in a highly matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Semiconductor, capital equipment, electronics, or advanced manufacturing industry experience.
• Experience with:
  • Design for Manufacturability (DfM/DfX)
  • Manufacturing strategy development
  • Supply chain design and sourcing strategy
  • Manufacturing BOM structures
  • Quality systems and commercialization processes
  • Pilot-to-HVM transitions
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent Program Management certification preferred.
• Experience with product lifecycle management and portfolio management processes.

Skills

• Strategic and systems-level thinking
• Exceptional program planning and execution
• Executive communication and influence
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Cross-functional leadership
• Stakeholder management
• Change management and organizational alignment
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational execution

Success Measures

• Successful product commercialization and product release.
• On-time achievement of NPI and manufacturing readiness milestones.
• Successful pilot builds and transition to High Volume Manufacturing.
• Effective closure of manufacturing and design-related readiness issues.
• Achievement of quality, cost, cycle time, and gross margin objectives.
• Strong customer, stakeholder, and business-unit satisfaction.

Benefits

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits.

Pay

$116,000.00 - $159,500.00

Schedule

• Time Type: Full time
• Employee Type: Assignee / Regular
• Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time

Location: Austin, TX; Santa Clara, CA