Hardware Program Manager

Job TitlePay Range: $65/hr - $70/hrRequirement/Must Have:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.8+ years of experience in hardware program management within consumer electronics or high-volume manufacturing.Proven track record of delivering products from concept through mass production at scale (millions of units).Strong understanding of hardware development lifecycle (prototype → validation → production).Experience coordinating software development alongside hardware programs, including OS integration and release cycles.Familiarity with software development lifecycles and Agile methodologies.Experience working with ODMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers.Strong technical foundation across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and software domains.Experience working with globally distributed teams across multiple time zones.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with a data-driven mindset.Experience using AI tools for project management, documentation, or analysis.High attention to detail, ensuring data accuracy across systems and teams.Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Confluence).Knowledge of PLM systems (especially tools like Propel).Self-driven and comfortable working independently with strong ownership.Willingness to travel internationally for factory builds and supplier engagement.PMP certification or equivalent is a plus.Experience in streaming devices, smart home, or connected consumer electronics is highly desirable.Responsibilities:Own end-to-end program management for hardware products from concept through mass production.Drive execution across engineering validation, design verification, and production readiness stages.Build, manage, and track detailed program schedules, milestones, and critical paths.Provide clear and consistent program status updates to stakeholders and leadership.Coordinate cross-functional teams including hardware, mechanical, software, quality, operations, compliance, and creative.Track software feature delivery, bug triage, and release readiness for product launches.Align OS integration and certification timelines with hardware development schedules.Manage relationships with manufacturing partners, suppliers, and chipset/system vendors.Identify program risks (design, tooling, supply chain, schedule) and implement mitigation strategies.Lead Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) efforts to optimize cost and quality.Facilitate technical discussions, challenge assumptions, and drive data-based decision-making.Communicate risks, trade-offs, and program updates clearly across all levels of the organization.Conduct post-mortems on builds and quality issues, and apply learnings to future programs.Support vendor selection, RFQs, and negotiation processes with supply chain teams.Improve and standardize program management processes and tools for better execution.Ensure smooth collaboration across global teams and stakeholders.