Sr. Technical Program Manager, New Product Introduction

What To Expect

The Sr. Technical Program Manager for the New Product Introduction team plays a pivotal role in guiding product design changes from initial concept through to high-volume manufacturing. As the central coordinator during major build events, you will lead cross-functional teams—including Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain—to ensure seamless execution, readiness, and problem resolution. This high-impact position demands strategic persistence, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while building strong stakeholder relationships. You will champion first-principles problem-solving to mitigate risks and accelerate ramps, contributing to the company's mission of scalable, robust production, and sustainable abundance.

What You'll Do

• Owning end-to-end manufacturing program execution for an entire vehicle platform, from design release through SOP and volume ramp.
• Own the platform-level NPI plan — integrate every shop's build matrix, trial calendar, tooling readiness, part maturity, and ramp curve into one coherent vehicle program.
• Drive the full lifecycle of new products or programs into factory production, from program scoping and product definition to MBOM (Manufacturing Bill of Materials) creation, supply chain readiness, and implementation.
• Plan, organize, and orchestrate pre-launch build activities, including slow builds, part trials, design iterations, DV/PV (Design/Pilot Vehicle) validation, and PPA (Process Planning Approval).
• Scale mass production to achieve high reliability, repeatability, and robustness, aligning with aggressive production ramp schedules in partnership with operations teams.
• Approve design changes by rigorously reviewing engineering drawings (2D and CAD), engineering data (e.g., strength of materials, NVH, heat transfer, vehicle integration), and design tolerance stack-ups.
• Manage large-scale sample part trials with associates, technicians, and engineers, defining and tracking KPI metrics for success (e.g., Safety, Quality, OEE, Production Targets).
• Oversee comprehensive manufacturing validation for programs, including driving supply chain readiness, transitioning from launch to production planning, organizing factory handovers, and handling excess/obsolescence planning along with post-program service introduction.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional Program and Manufacturing Readiness forums, delivering concise, actionable updates on status, recovery plans, and executive-level insights.
• Own ramp readiness end-to-end — gate criteria for each build phase, exit criteria for ramp, inflection points, and the call on whether the platform is ready to step rate.
• Mentor the per-shop TPMs and Sr. TPMs assigned to your platform; raise the bar on program management craft across the NPI org.
• Interface directly with VPs and Directors across Vehicle Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain and brief the program at the executive level.
• Facilitate end-to-end problem-solving, from issue identification and root cause analysis to containment, preventive actions, implementation, and feedback loops—addressing challenges of any scale with a first-principles approach.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering; Master's Degree preferred
• 10+ years of experience in technical program management, product introduction/launch, or manufacturing engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior or lead role within automotive, aerospace, or high-volume hardware environments
• Strong foundational knowledge of multidisciplinary engineering principles (Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial)
• Prior proven ability to apply first-principles engineering methodologies to complex problem-solving
• Prior automotive engineering background strongly preferred, with hands-on experience in design reviews, validation processes, and production scaling
• Demonstrated agility in prioritizing/de-prioritizing tasks based on program milestones and deliverables
• Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, adept at engaging horizontal and vertical stakeholders at all levels, from working teams to executives

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program, Tesla