Senior Technical Program Manager Hardware NPI : 26-02737

Akraya, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Akraya, Inc. is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager with deep expertise in x86 hardware product development, NPI, and global contract manufacturing to drive programs from prototype through validation and launch.

You will lead cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and external manufacturing partners, manage phase-gate criteria, cost and schedule, and ensure manufacturing readiness for scalable hardware appliances.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in product development and manufacturing environments, with proven NPI program management experience.
• Strong experience managing cross-functional NPI programs involving x86 hardware platforms and PCBA.
• Strong knowledge of Hardware Validation, Product Characterization, DFM, DFA, and DFT processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NPI programs for x86 hardware appliances, coordinating Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Compliance, Hardware Validation, Test Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.
• Develop and manage integrated hardware development, prototyping, validation, and release schedules aligned with software development and system integration milestones.
• Drive DFM, DFA, and DFT processes with global contract manufacturers and PCB fabrication partners, ensuring objectives for cost, quality, reliability, and manufacturing readiness are achieved.
• Establish phase-gate criteria, manage hardware validation, product/component characterization, release readiness, and Post Ramp Qualification (PRQ) activities.
• Identify and mitigate program risks through early engagement, bug tracking, cross-functional risk assessments, risk buys, lead-time analysis, and corrective actions.
• Drive operational improvements including ECO management, BOM traceability, cost reduction, should-cost modeling, multi-sourcing, supplier management, and hardware lifecycle optimization.

Skills

Hardware NPI & Product Development

x86 Hardware / PCBA Manufacturing

Cross-Functional Program Management

DFM / DFA / DFT & Hardware Validation

Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Tools

Valor

Arena

Jira

CAD

Job description

Primary Skills: Hardware NPI & Product Development (Expert), x86 Hardware / PCBA Manufacturing (Expert), Cross-Functional Program Management (Expert), DFM / DFA / DFT & Hardware Validation (Advanced), Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management (Advanced)

Contract Type: W2 Only Duration: 10+ Months Location: Santa Clara, CA Pay Range: $95 - $100 on W2

Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Program Manager with strong expertise in x86 hardware product development, New Product Introduction (NPI), and global contract manufacturing. This role will drive hardware programs from development and prototyping through validation, manufacturing readiness, launch, and post-ramp qualification. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical expertise with business acumen and the ability to lead complex cross-functional programs involving engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, manufacturing, and external manufacturing partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end NPI programs for x86 hardware appliances, coordinating Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Compliance, Hardware Validation, Test Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.
• Develop and manage integrated hardware development, prototyping, validation, and release schedules aligned with software development and system integration milestones.
• Drive DFM, DFA, and DFT processes with global contract manufacturers and PCB fabrication partners, ensuring objectives for cost, quality, reliability, and manufacturing readiness are achieved.
• Establish phase-gate criteria, manage hardware validation, product/component characterization, release readiness, and Post Ramp Qualification (PRQ) activities.
• Identify and mitigate program risks through early engagement, bug tracking, cross-functional risk assessments, risk buys, lead-time analysis, and corrective actions.
• Drive operational improvements including ECO management, BOM traceability, cost reduction, should-cost modeling, multi-sourcing, supplier management, and hardware lifecycle optimization.

Must-Have Skills:

• 8+ years of experience in product development and manufacturing environments, with proven NPI program management experience.
• Strong experience managing cross-functional NPI programs involving x86 hardware platforms and PCBA.
• Strong knowledge of Hardware Validation, Product Characterization, DFM, DFA, and DFT processes.
• Proven experience managing global contract manufacturers, suppliers, materials, manufacturing processes, and product launch readiness.
• Strong project management expertise including schedule management, risk assessment, issue resolution, and multiple concurrent programs.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Experience with product development tools such as Valor, Arena, Jira, and CAD.
• Experience with cost-reduction initiatives, should-cost modeling, multi-sourcing, and supply chain optimization.
• Experience with ECOs, multi-level BOM management, component traceability, and corrective action processes.
• Experience with hard tooling, optical transceivers, and PRQ technical initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of global hardware manufacturing, PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly, and contract manufacturing operations.
• Experience with supplier negotiations, commercial discussions, and contract management.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic approach to operations management in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and technical leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor team members and drive continuous improvement through retrospectives and operational best practices.