Technical NPI Program Manager - Senior Principal
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
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 readinessCross-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 executivesNPI 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
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-upRisk & Issue Management
Identify, track, and mitigate/remove program risks
Lead resolution of cross-functional issues (technical, supply, schedule)
Escalate critical issues and drive recovery plansFinancial & Resource Management
Manage program budget, cost tracking, and forecasting
Drive cost optimization and margin targets
Allocate and manage resources across multiple workstreamsGovernance & 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