Principal Hardware NPI Program Manager

Hardware FYI; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Engineering, Hardware NPI Program Manager to lead complex hardware programs from design release to productization and launch. You will own integrated plans and align hardware, systems, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to deliver customer-ready connectivity solutions for rack-scale AI infrastructure.

In this highly visible role, you will drive readiness reviews, manage risks, and ensure on-time execution across a globally distributed organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, operations, or related field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
• 8–12 years of experience in hardware NPI, technical program management, manufacturing engineering, product operations, or related field.
• Experience guiding hardware products or builds through development, validation, manufacturing, or launch.
• Knowledge of hardware development, PCB/PCBA manufacturing, BOMs, ECTs, supplier coordination, and manufacturing release.
• Ability to manage integrated schedules, milestones, risks, action items, budgets, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to influence teams without direct authority in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.

Responsibilities

• Define PCBA program schedules, build quantities, milestones, budgets, dependencies, and readiness criteria from concept through launch.
• Lead prototype and new-product builds through PCB/PCBA fabrication, assembly, bring-up, validation, and launch.
• Establish readiness reviews, decision forums, dashboards, and escalation paths for alignment.
• Develop recovery plans when material shortages or supplier constraints threaten delivery.
• Align product, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations around shared outcomes.
• Identify blockers early and drive decisions to closure with clear recommendations.
• Communicate concise, decision-oriented updates to technical teams, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Confirm BOMs, fabrication data, suppliers, work instructions, deviations, and approvals before each build.
• Serve as primary contact for contract manufacturers and external partners.

Skills

NPI program management

Cross-functional leadership

Hardware development

Schedule & risk management

Communication & influence

Travel internationally

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, CS, or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Project

SharePoint

Power BI

Teams

Job description

Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions. By collaborating with hyperscalers and ecosystem partners, Astera Labs enables organizations to unlock the full potential of modern AI. Astera Labs’ Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates CXL®, Ethernet, NVLink, PCIe®, and UALink™ semiconductor-based technologies with the company’s COSMOS software suite to unify diverse components into cohesive, flexible systems that deliver end-to-end scale-up, and scale-out connectivity. The company’s custom connectivity solutions business complements its standards-based portfolio, enabling customers to deploy tailored architectures to meet their unique infrastructure requirements. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.

Role Overview

Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Engineering, Hardware NPI Program Manager to lead complex hardware programs from design release through productization, validation, customer readiness, and launch. This highly visible role combines technical NPI expertise with cross-functional program leadership to deliver purpose-built connectivity solutions for rack-scale AI infrastructure.

You will bring structure to programs spanning product, hardware, systems, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, quality, finance, and customer-facing teams. You will own integrated plans, dependencies, risks, decisions, and outcomes while driving accountability across a fast-moving, globally distributed organization. Your work will turn engineering intent into predictable, customer-ready hardware and help Astera scale new connectivity platforms with speed, quality, and confidence.

Key Responsibilities

• NPI Program Planning and Execution
  • Define PCBA program schedules, build quantities, milestones, budgets, dependencies, and readiness criteria from concept through launch.
  • Lead prototype and new-product builds through PCB and PCBA fabrication, assembly, bring-up, validation, shipment readiness, and launch.
  • Establish readiness reviews, decision forums, dashboards, and escalation paths that keep teams aligned.
  • Develop recovery recommendations when material shortages, engineering changes, supplier constraints, or other risks threaten delivery.
• Cross-Functional Product Execution
  • Align product, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, finance, operations, and customer-facing teams around shared outcomes.
  • Identify blockers early, assign accountable owners, drive decisions to closure, and elevate issues with clear recommendations.
  • Communicate concise, decision-oriented updates to technical teams, senior leaders, executives, customers, contract manufacturers, and external partners.
• Manufacturing Readiness and Supplier Leadership
  • Confirm that bill of materials, part numbers, fabrication and assembly data, suppliers, work instructions, deviations, engineering changes, and approvals are complete before each build.
  • Highlight and resolve manufacturing issues involving component sourcing, design for manufacturability, programming, assembly, rework, traceability, and hardware logistics.
  • Serve as a primary program and technical contact for contract manufacturers, rework providers, and other external partners while maintaining accountability for commitments.
• Operational Excellence and Team Enablement
  • Improve program-management processes, documentation, repositories, reporting, and performance metrics so execution becomes more predictable, measurable, and searchable.
  • Identify repetitive or error-prone work that can be standardized or automated, and partner with data, software, and applied-AI teams to improve dashboards, milestone tracking, document workflows, and program knowledge.
  • Coach team members on readiness, documentation, supplier communication, decision-making, and escalation practices.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, operations, or a related field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
• 8-12 years of experience in hardware NPI, technical program management, manufacturing engineering, product operations, or a related field.
• Experience guiding hardware products or builds through development, validation, manufacturing, or launch.
• Working knowledge of hardware development, PCB/PCBA manufacturing, bills of materials, engineering changes, supplier coordination, and manufacturing release.
• Demonstrated ability to manage integrated schedules, milestones, risks, action items, budgets, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence teams without direct authority and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-speed networking, PCIe Gen 6 or Gen 7, UALink, optical or cable connectivity, retimers, ASICs, compute platforms, data centers, or AI infrastructure hardware.
• Understanding of physical-layer considerations for high-speed interconnects, including signal integrity, board-level debug, prototype rework, BGA processing, X-ray review, or failure analysis.
• Experience with customer programs, product launches, strategic initiatives, cost and operational improvement programs, product lifecycle activities, quality, RMA, or EOL execution.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint, Power BI, and Teams for planning, reporting, documentation, collaboration, and executive communication.
• Experience building dashboards, data pipelines, workflow automation, or AI-assisted engineering tools, as well as managing prototype budgets, purchase requests, purchase orders, supplier quotes, or forecasts.
• Experience mentoring engineers, interns, or cross-functional teams and strengthening execution practices across a growing organization.

We know that creativity and innovation happen more often when teams include diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, and we actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.