Senior NPI Program Lead: Multi-Site & Customer Focus

Jobtailor; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vantedge in San Jose seeks an experienced NPI Program Manager to lead complex, multi-site programs from quote through production stabilization. You will coordinate design reviews, DFM discussions, and cross-functional teams across engineering, quality, planning and operations to ensure on-time delivery and budget adherence.

You will own program plans, manage risks, report to executives, and act as the primary customer liaison for high-impact initiatives, shaping the company’s NPI processes and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum 7 years of program or project management experience in a precision manufacturing environment, with at least 4 years managing complex NPI programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale, multi-site, or multi-discipline programs with cross-functional teams across geographically distributed operations.
• Proven ability to develop and execute detailed program plans; skilled in critical path management, risk identification, and stakeholder communication.
• Strong financial acumen – experience with program budgets, cost modeling, ROI analysis, and capital expenditure justification.
• Excellent executive communication skills – able to present program status, risk, and decisions clearly to executive level and customer stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and DFM principles for precision manufactured components.
• Proficiency in project management tools (Smartsheet, MS Project, or equivalent) and Microsoft Office Suite

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, multi-site NPI programs end-to-end.
• Own program execution from initial quote and customer engagement through design, qualification, and full production stabilization.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive program plans including schedules, milestones, resources, and budgets.
• Hold cross-functional teams accountable for timely execution and drive decisions to keep programs on track.
• Serve as the senior customer interface for high-impact programs.
• Represent the company in customer design reviews, DFM discussions, quoting presentations, and escalations requiring senior-level judgment.
• Provide proactive, clear communication on program status, risks, and decisions to prevent surprises.
• Drive risk management, financial oversight, and executive reporting.
• Proactively identify, assess, and manage program risks; develop mitigation plans.
• Coordinate DFM analysis, quoting support, financial projections, ROI analysis, and capex justification.
• Provide program reporting to VP of Engineering, executive leadership, and customer stakeholders.
• Contribute to PM process standards and tools development across sites.

Skills

NPI Program Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Financial Acumen

Risk Management

GD&T and DFM Principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Smartsheet

MS Project

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Vantedge in San Jose seeks an experienced NPI Program Manager to lead complex, multi-site programs from quote through production stabilization. You will coordinate design reviews, DFM discussions, and cross-functional teams across engineering, quality, planning and operations to ensure on-time delivery and budget adherence.

You will own program plans, manage risks, report to executives, and act as the primary customer liaison for high-impact initiatives, shaping the company’s NPI processes and