Silicon NPI Business Process Manager

Cisco Systems; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems in San Jose seeks a Silicon NPI Business Process Manager for Silicon One to standardize and scale how Cisco brings pioneering networking silicon from tape-out through production ramp.

The role focuses on creating SOPs, RACI governance, and readiness metrics to ensure smooth transitions from design to manufacturing across multi-project environments, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and govern SOPs for prototype build planning across Silicon One programs.
• Establish unified supplier forecasting and rolling forecast mechanisms with foundries and OSAT partners.
• Build and manage closed-loop supply commit processes with external manufacturing partners.
• Standardize phase-gate criteria and governance for supply chain readiness in NPI programs.

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/28/2026

Your Impact

As the Silicon NPI Business Process Manager for Silicon One, you will be the chief operational architect responsible for standardizing and scaling how Cisco brings pioneering networking silicon from tape-out through production ramp.

Key Responsibilities

1. Prototype & NPI Build Planning & Supplier Forecast Governance

· Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Design, implement, and govern SOPs for prototype build planning (engineering samples, EVT, DVT, PVT, and qualification lots) across all Silicon One programs.

· Supplier Forecasting: Establish a unified mechanism for translating engineering build demand into rolling supplier forecasts (foundry wafer starts, OSAT packaging substrates, probe, and final test).

· Closed-Loop Commits: Build and manage closed-loop supply commit processes with external manufacturing partners and foundries to guarantee material availability against aggressive development schedules.

· Clear-to-Build (CTB): Standardize Clear-to-Build methodologies, risk-buy policies, and prototype lot prioritization frameworks across multi-project environments.

2. Multi-functional RACI Architecture & Governance

· RACI Matrices: Architect and maintain comprehensive RACI matrices across the entire pre-production lifecycle, clearly delineating decision rights, achievement sign-offs, and deliverable ownership between SCPMs, Silicon Design Engineering, Sourcing, Product Ops, and Manufacturing.

· Decision Swimlanes: Establish and govern formal blocking issue paths and decision-making swimlanes for critical NPI inflection points (e.g., ECOs, late tape-out shifts, wafer scrap excursions, split-lot trade-offs, and allocation conflicts).

· Governance Audits: Periodically audit, refresh, and align RACI boundaries as organizational structures evolve, ensuring zero ambiguity in multi-functional accountability during fast-paced launch cycles.

3. Supply Chain Readiness Phase-Gate Management & SCPM Enablement

· Phase-Gate Criteria: Define, standardize, and govern phase-gate criteria specific to supply chain readiness for Silicon One products.

· SCPM Toolkits & Playbooks: Build standardized toolkits, playbooks, RACI-aligned checklist sign-offs, and templates that enable peer SCPMs to drive operational readiness and landmark exit approvals with minimal administrative friction.

· Multi-functional Alignment: Partner with Product Management, Silicon Design Engineering, Quality, Sourcing, and Manufacturing Operations to ensure alignment at each achievement gate.

· Continuous Improvement: Institutionalize post-launch retrospectives and continuous improvement loops to capture lessons learned and refine phase-gate rigor.

4. Readiness Metrics, Executive Dashboards & Analytics

· Executive Dashboard Suite: Design, automate, and publish the official Silicon One NPI Readiness Dashboard suite, tracking program health, achievement attainment, wafer cycle-time velocity, and supply commit integrity.

· Metric Governance: Establish and track leading and lagging operational benchmarks, including Achievement & Build Schedule Consistency (%), Clear-to-Build (CTB) Lead-Time Health, Foundry & OSAT Commit-to-Request Accuracy, Yield Ramp Velocity vs. Plan, Handoff Readiness Index