Technical Program Manager

Jobtailor

Minnesota

On-site

USD 130,000 - 170,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a Senior Manufacturing/Process Engineering leader in Minnesota to drive NPI and sustaining programs from development to high-volume production. You will align cross-functional teams across Product, Supplier Quality, Test, and DFx, serving as the main technical escalation point for ferrule production issues and leading root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

You will prepare contract manufacturers for pre-production builds, assess technical readiness, and push for

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree completed and verified before start date.
Seven years of combined experience in product/process/manufacturing engineering or technical program management in hardware/optics manufacturing.
Five years leading NPI programs from development to mass production.
Five years of hands-on root cause analysis and corrective actions (8D, DMAIC, fishbone), etc.
Three years working with contract manufacturers or external partners.
Willingness to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Experience with fiber optic components, ferrule manufacturing, or related earlier stages.

Responsibilities

Drive technical and operational success of new product introduction and sustaining programs.
Lead cross-functional engineering teams including Product, Supplier Quality, Test, and DFx.
Serve as primary escalation point for ferrule production process issues.
Perform root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
Prepare contract manufacturers for pre-production builds.
Own technical readiness assessments of contract manufacturers.
Drive design for manufacturability and yield improvements.
Lead technical deep-dives for critical production issues.
Guide teams through complex product design and manufacturing challenges.
Collaborate with contract manufacturers to troubleshoot on-site or remotely.
Ensure compliance with quality standards and regulatory guidelines.
Communicate risks and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers.

Skills

New Product Introduction

Root Cause Analysis

Cross-Functional Leadership

Process Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

DFx

DMAIC

SPC

Cpk/Ppk

Fiber Optic Manufacturing

ISO 9001

IATF 16949

PLM Software

MES Software

Windchill

SAP QM

Minitab

Mentoring

Strong Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PLM Software

MES Software

Windchill

SAP QM

Minitab

Job description

Drive the technical and operational success of new product introduction and sustaining programs from development through hyperscale volume production
Lead and align cross-functional engineering teams, including Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering, and DFx
Serve as the primary technical escalation point for ferrule production process issues
Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and permanent issue resolution
Lead contract manufacturer preparation for pre-production builds
Own technical readiness assessments of contract manufacturers, including processes, tooling, and quality systems
Drive technical decisions on process design, yield improvement, and manufacturability
Lead technical deep-dives and investigations for critical production issues
Guide engineering teams through complex product design, process engineering, and manufacturing challenges
Evaluate process technologies, equipment, and methods to improve quality, throughput, and cost-efficiency
Collaborate with contract manufacturers’ technical teams to troubleshoot production issues on-site or remotely
Ensure solutions align with 3M quality standards, reliability requirements, and regulatory guidelines
Communicate technical risks, findings, and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
Seven (7) years of combined experience in product engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical program management within a hardware/optics manufacturing environment
Five (5) years of experience leading or directly supporting new product introduction (NPI) programs from development through mass production
Five (5) years of hands-on experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes, including 8D, DMAIC, and fishbone/Ishikawa analysis
Three (3) years of experience working directly with contract manufacturers or external manufacturing partners
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to approximately 25% of the time
Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status
Ability to satisfy U.S. Export Control Laws assessment requirements
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field
Experience with fiber optic components, connectors, or ferrule manufacturing processes
Background in high-volume, hyperscale, or precision manufacturing environments
Familiarity with DFx, DFM, and DFT principles
Experience with SPC, Cpk/Ppk, and yield improvement methodologies
Working knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or similar quality systems
Experience with PLM, MES, or quality management software such as Windchill, SAP QM, or Minitab
Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers or technical team members
Strong communication skills and experience presenting technical findings to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
Experience in a global, matrixed organization with cross-time-zone collaboration
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams to resolve complex production issues

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading new product introduction programs and managing cross-functional engineering teams within a hardware manufacturing environment. Proficient in root cause analysis, corrective actions, and ensuring compliance with quality standards and regulatory guidelines.

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