Program Manager

Senior Program Manager

Demand Planning · Test Engineering · CM Enablement

Function:

Program Management

Reports To:

PMO

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Program Manager to serve as the operational backbone driving excellence in demand planning, test engineering, and contract manufacturer (CM) enablement. This role partners directly with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain leadership to ensure product programs move efficiently through planning, validation, and release milestones with full cross-functional alignment.

The ideal candidate brings a structured approach to program execution, comfort navigating ambiguity in fast-moving hardware environments, and a track record of driving accountability across teams without direct authority.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Planning Support

• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to translate program schedules into actionable demand signals for procurement and manufacturing.
• Own and maintain rolling forecast inputs tied to product development milestones, ensuring material availability aligns with build plans.
• Facilitate S&OP touchpoints between engineering, operations, and finance; surface risk and drive resolution on supply-demand gaps.
• Track BOM lifecycle transitions and coordinate ECO-driven demand impacts with PLM and MRP owners.

Test Engineering Coordination

• Drive project management for test infrastructure buildout by coordinating test equipment procurement, lab readiness, and resource scheduling across programs.
• Maintain test program schedules, gate entry/exit criteria, and issue tracking for functional, environmental, and system-level validation activities.
• Facilitate alignment between test engineering, hardware design, and manufacturing on defect disposition, re-test cycles, and qualification timelines.
• Support Design Engineering gate readiness reviews (PDR, CDR, PRR) by tracking test completion status and ensuring required evidence packages are complete and on time.

CM Enablement

• Serve as the PM interface for configuration management activities — coordinating ECO release cycles, BOM accuracy reviews, and PLM/MRP synchronization.
• Support CM process adherence across programs, working with engineering and operations to maintain traceability from design release through production.
• Facilitate cross-functional ECO review meetings; track open actions and drive timely closure on pending changes.
• Identify gaps in CM process execution and partner with stakeholders to implement improvements that reduce rework and release delays.

Program & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Own integrated program schedules across assigned products, maintaining visibility into critical path, dependencies, and at-risk milestones.
• Lead weekly program reviews and publish status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Proactively identify and escalate risks; develop mitigation plans and drive resolution to closure.
• Champion continuous improvement in program processes, tools, and reporting infrastructure.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of project or program management experience in a hardware product development or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting demand planning, supply chain, or S&OP processes in a product lifecycle context.
• Working knowledge of configuration management principles, ECO processes, and BOM lifecycle management.
• Experience coordinating test and validation programs for electromechanical or electronics hardware.
• Strong proficiency with project scheduling tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) and collaboration platforms (SharePoint, Teams, or equivalent).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical status for executive audiences.

Preferred

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management certification.
• Familiarity with PLM systems (Arena, Agile, Windchill) and MRP/ERP platforms (SAP, Syspro, or equivalent).
• Experience working within a stage-gate product development framework (PDR/CDR/PRR or equivalent).
• Background in industrial electronics, defense, medical devices, or complex capital equipment.

Core Competencies

Cross-Functional Influence

Drives alignment across engineering, ops, and supply chain without direct authority.

Structured Execution

Maintains disciplined schedules, action tracking, and milestone accountability under pressure.

Technical Fluency

Interprets hardware designs, test data, and CM artifacts to manage program risk effectively.

Communication & Transparency

Keeps stakeholders informed with clear, timely, and actionable program status.

Risk Management

Proactively surfaces and mitigates risk; drives issues to resolution before they impact schedule.

Process Improvement Mindset

Identifies inefficiencies and builds durable process improvements with stakeholder buy-in.