Sr Principal Engineering Program Manager

About the Role

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor's products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

The Sr Principal Engineering Program Manager is responsible for leading highly complex semiconductor technology and product development programs from concept through qualification, manufacturing readiness, and high-volume production. This role drives cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and business teams to ensure programs are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with strategic business objectives. The ideal candidate combines strong technical acumen with exceptional program leadership skills to manage risks, resolve complex challenges, and influence decisions across all levels of the organization. This position serves as a key leader in translating customer, market, and business requirements into executable development plans while providing executive-level visibility into program progress, resource needs, risks, and business impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex semiconductor technology and product development programs from concept through qualification, manufacturing ramp, and high-volume production.
• Own end-to-end program execution including scope definition, schedule development, resource planning, dependency management, and delivery of key program milestones.
• Develop comprehensive program plans that align technical objectives, customer requirements, and business strategies.
• Drive program governance through milestone reviews, readiness assessments, stage-gate processes, and executive reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure successful execution of multiple concurrent programs while maintaining alignment with organizational priorities.
• Drive collaboration and alignment across Engineering, Product Management, Technology Development, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer-facing teams.
• Facilitate communication between technical and business stakeholders to ensure effective decision-making and program execution.
• Partner with engineering and functional leaders to prioritize investments, allocate resources, and execute strategic technology roadmaps.
• Build strong working relationships across global teams to ensure program objectives and commitments are achieved.
• Proactively identify technical, operational, schedule, and resource risks that may impact program success.
• Lead cross-functional teams in developing and implementing mitigation and contingency plans.
• Manage issue resolution and escalation processes to ensure timely decision-making and minimal impact on program deliverables.
• Evaluate trade-offs between performance, cost, schedule, quality, and customer requirements to support informed business decisions.
• Coordinate product development, qualification, validation, and manufacturing readiness activities to meet performance, reliability, quality, yield, and cost objectives.
• Ensure requirements, deliverables, and milestones are clearly defined and communicated throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support successful product introductions by aligning development activities with manufacturing and operational capabilities.
• Monitor program readiness and drive process improvements to enhance execution efficiency and product quality.
• Develop and maintain program dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools to provide visibility into program status, risks, dependencies, resource requirements, and business impact.
• Present program updates, recommendations, and key decisions to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on development methodologies, program management processes, operational excellence, and organizational effectiveness.
• Champion best practices for engineering program management across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Semiconductor Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated success driving New Product Introduction (NPI), New Technology Introduction (NTI), technology readiness, product qualification, and commercialization initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of development lifecycles, manufacturing operations, product qualification methodologies, yield improvement, and reliability processes.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing technical and business decisions without direct organizational authority.
• Expertise in program planning, execution, risk management, dependency management, resource planning, schedule development, and executive communication.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, resolve complex issues, and drive execution in a dynamic environment.
• Working knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Analysis (FA), and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Experience utilizing program management and analytics tools such as Microsoft Project, Microsoft timeline or equivalent platforms.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with experience communicating effectively with customers, engineering teams, operations, and executive leadership.
• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience.

Skills

• Communication
• Communication Execution
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Failure Analysis
• Manufacturing Operations
• Microsoft Office
• New Product Integration
• New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Problem Solving
• Process Reliability
• Product Development Lifecycle
• Product Qualification
• Program Planning
• Resource Planning
• Risk Management
• Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Yield Improvement

Pay

$136,200.00 - $178,815.00 per year, depending on experience, skills, and background (for Livermore, California location; pay may vary in other locations).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Paid time off
• Quarterly profit-sharing bonuses
• Flexible spending or savings accounts