Principal TPM Release & Change Lead

ZT Group Intl, Inc. dba ZT Systems; Secaucus (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

ZT Systems is seeking a Principal Technical Program Manager to lead end-to-end firmware releases across FW/BMC/BIOS domains. Coordinate across engineering, validation, manufacturing, and operations to keep milestones aligned with hardware progress and product launches.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in technical program management, expertise in firmware lifecycle, and strong executive communication skills to drive risk mitigation and stakeholder alignment across global teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management or related leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of firmware, BIOS, BMC, embedded systems, or hardware product lifecycles.
• Proven experience managing complex cross-functional programs involving hardware, firmware, validation, and manufacturing.
• Deep knowledge of release management, change control, configuration management, and product lifecycle processes.
• Demonstrated ability to identify program risks and align across organizations with aggressive schedules.
• Experience with enterprise-level development methodologies including Agile, Scrum, and stage-gate development.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and executive presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware, BIOS, and BMC release planning across product development programs.
• Establish and drive change management processes for firmware, hardware, and validation changes.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align development schedules, release timelines, and validation plans.
• Manage release governance, readiness assessments, milestone tracking, and executive reporting.
• Drive risk management and issue resolution for firmware and platform integration challenges.
• Collaborate with engineering leaders to prioritize release content and dependencies.
• Maintain end-to-end visibility of program status, deliverables, and action items.
• Foster collaboration across firmware, BIOS, BMC, hardware, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations.
• Develop scalable processes, metrics, and tools to improve release predictability and quality.
• Ensure synchronization of product development, validation, and deployment activities.
• Lead readiness reviews and support product launch through post-release stabilization.
• Communicate status, risks, and mitigations to senior leadership.

Skills

Firmware release management

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Executive communication

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

About the Role

The Principal Technical Program Manager (TPM) – FW/BMC/BIOS Release & Change Lead is responsible for driving end-to-end firmware release planning, change management, and cross-functional program execution across complex hardware platforms. This role serves as the central point of coordination between engineering, firmware, BIOS, BMC, validation, hardware, manufacturing, and operations teams to ensure all development activities remain aligned throughout the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in system firmware and platform architecture with exceptional program management skills to manage release readiness, change control processes, risk mitigation, and stakeholder communication. This leader ensures firmware releases are delivered on schedule, with high quality, and in synchronization with hardware and validation milestones.

What You Will Do

Lead firmware, BIOS, and BMC release planning activities across product development programs.

Establish and drive change management processes, ensuring all firmware, hardware, and validation changes are properly assessed, tracked, approved, and communicated.

Coordinate cross-functional teams to align development schedules, release timelines, validation plans, and deployment milestones.

Manage release governance, including release reviews, readiness assessments, milestone tracking, and executive reporting.

Drive issue resolution and risk management for critical firmware and platform integration challenges.

Partner with engineering leaders to prioritize release content, evaluate dependencies, and balance business and technical objectives.

Maintain end-to-end visibility of program status, key deliverables, action items, and critical path activities.

Facilitate collaboration between firmware, BIOS, BMC, hardware, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations organizations.

Develop and implement scalable processes, metrics, and tools that improve release predictability, quality, and execution efficiency.

Ensure synchronization between product development, system validation, qualification, and deployment activities.

Lead release readiness reviews and support product launch execution through post-release stabilization.

Communicate program status, risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.

What You Bring

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.

10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, Engineering Program Management, or related leadership roles.

Strong understanding of firmware, BIOS, BMC, embedded systems, server platforms, or hardware product development lifecycles.

Proven experience managing complex cross-functional programs involving hardware, firmware, validation, and manufacturing organizations.

Deep knowledge of release management, change control, configuration management, and product lifecycle processes.

Demonstrated ability to identify program risks, drive alignment across organizations, and execute against aggressive schedules.

Experience with enterprise-level development methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and stage-gate product development frameworks.

Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and executive presentation skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

Experience working with product launches, platform validation, qualification processes, and deployment readiness activities.

Ability to influence without authority and successfully lead global, matrixed teams.

A track record of delivering high-impact technical programs in fast-paced, highly complex engineering environments.

About ZT Systems

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you’ll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world‑class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands‑on experience in a fast‑paced environment that’s challenging, rewarding, and career‑defining. A culture built around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities—to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow. Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.

What We Offer

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well‑being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.

Compensation & Financial Security

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
• Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs
• Company-paid life and disability insurance

Time Away & Work-Life Balance

• Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
• Parental leave and family care support programs

  Growth & Purpose

  • Structured training programs and on‑job learning opportunities
  • Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

  These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location. Learn more about our benefits here.

  Equal Opportunity Employer

  ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

  Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.