Senior Technical Program Manager

NOKIA; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead end-to-end NPI onboarding for hyperscalers and strategic accounts. You will own program execution, coordinate Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Customer Delivery teams, and drive on-time delivery with high quality and customer satisfaction.

The role requires deep technical understanding of optical networking, risk mitigation, and strong stakeholder management across global teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Technical Program Management.
• 12-15+ years of experience in Software and/or Hardware product environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI onboarding programs from concept to delivery.
• Define onboarding plans with NPI, Engineering and Operations teams.
• Identify risks early and define mitigation strategies.
• Proactively manage escalations and drive issue resolution.
• Drive alignment across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Create and maintain action trackers; establish governance cadence.
• Develop executive dashboards and PowerPoint presentations for status updates.
• Manage multiple complex programs simultaneously.

Skills

NPI onboarding

Program leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional coordination

Executive communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

As a Technical Program Manager within the Global Customer Engineering / Services organization, you will lead end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) onboarding for hyperscaler and critical accounts. You will act as the central program owner driving cross-functional alignment across Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Customer Delivery teams.

The role requires strong execution discipline, technical depth in optical networking, and the ability to proactively identify risks, resolve escalations, and influence decision-making across internal and external stakeholders. You will own the onboarding lifecycle from planning through execution, ensuring programs are delivered on time with high quality and customer satisfaction.

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead NPI onboarding programs for hyperscaler and strategic customers from concept to delivery
• Define detailed onboarding plans in collaboration with NPI, Engineering, and Operations teams
• Continuously refine plans based on evolving constraints (technical, supply chain, customer timelines)
• Establish milestones, track progress, and ensure timely delivery of commitments

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify program risks early and define mitigation strategies
• Proactively manage escalations and drive issue resolution across cross-functional teams
• Maintain clear visibility of risks, dependencies, and blockers for stakeholders
• Intervene effectively during critical situations to ensure program continuity

Stakeholder Management & Negotiation

• Drive alignment across internal teams and external customer stakeholders
• Lead discussions, negotiate priorities, and influence decisions to resolve conflicts
• Control and steer conversations during critical program reviews or issue scenarios
• Ensure clear communication and expectation management at all levels

Cross-functional Coordination

• Work closely with Product Management, Engineering, QA, Supply Chain, and Customer Delivery teams
• Secure commitments on deliverables and timelines
• Drive accountability across teams for execution and closure

Operational Tracking & Governance

• Create and maintain detailed action trackers with clear ownership
• Drive rigorous follow-up to ensure closure of all action itemsEstablish governance cadence (weekly / executive reviews, customer syncs)

Reporting & Executive Communication

• Develop executive-level dashboards and reports for senior leadership
• Create high-quality PowerPoint presentations for program status, risks, and milestones
• Provide clear, data-driven updates to cross-functional teams and leadership

Program & Execution Excellence

• Strong experience in NPI / product onboarding programs
• Ability to develop structured project plans and execute under ambiguity
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously

Negotiation & Leadership

• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to intervene, influence outcomes, and steer discussions during challenging situations
• Excellent stakeholder management across global and cross-functional teams

Risk Management

• Expertise in identifying program risks and driving mitigation strategies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Technical Expertise

• Solid understanding of networking systems with emphasis on:
  • Optical DWDM technologies (preferred)
  • Layer 1 networking concepts
• Ability to work with engineering teams on system-level integration challenges

Communication & Reporting

• Strong executive communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to create structured dashboards and presentations for leadership
• Experience presenting to senior management and external customers

Operational Discipline

• Strong action tracking and follow-through capabilities
• Ability to drive closure across distributed teams

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Technical Program Management
• 12-15+ years of experience in Software and/or Hardware product environments
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline