Job Description

Engineering Build Program Manager

Onsite, Santa Clara, CA

W2 Contract 6+ months

$65/hr + Benefits, PTO, Paid Holidays

Overtime Required (Time & a half)

As the Engineering Build Planner , you will be the central coordinator for all engineering build activities — from early prototypes to pre-production and production hardware/software. You will lead cross-functional teams and work closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure builds are successfully planned, executed, tracked, and delivered with the right configuration, quality, and timing to support product development milestones. You will be the main liaison between Go-to-Market (GTM) PM, Product PM, design engineering, validation, material planners, operations, and contract manufacturers (CMs), making sure the engineering builds stay on schedule and issues are resolved quickly and effectively.

What You’ll Be Doing

Build & Program Ownership

• Own the end-to-end planning and execution of engineering builds, including early prototypes, pre-production, and production-intent hardware and software.
• Align build schedules to Go-To-Market milestone plans; continuously review changes, assess impacts, and drive timely alignment across teams.
• Act as the central point of accountability to ensure every build is ready, released, executed, and delivered successfully .

Execution & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead Build Readiness and Build Execution meetings; define scope, assign ownership, and drive closure with urgency.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for CMs; actively manage execution and resolve issues across schedule, quality, cost and logistics.
• Identify risks early, develop mitigation and contingency plans, and drive rapid resolution to keep builds on track.
• Track key milestones, dependencies, and resource needs to ensure teams have what they need—when they need it.
• Communicate build status, risks, and delivery commitments clearly and consistently to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Materials, Orders & Data Accuracy

• Manage Prototype Build Requests and PCB orders from initiation through fulfillment, including SAP entry, order tracking, and accuracy validation.
• Partner closely with supply chain, material planners, and vendors to ensure material readiness, anticipate shortages, manage lead-time risks, and mitigate supplier constraints.
• Monitor shipments against schedule to ensure timely delivery.
• Maintain and continuously update build schedules, execution trackers, and dashboards to provide real-time visibility into build readiness and supply-demand alignment.

Continuous Improvement:

• Independently create and adjust build plans to meet aggressive project timelines.
• Establish and monitor critical execution metrics to drive predictability and accountability.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve planning models, processes, and infrastructure to enable faster, more scalable execution.

What We Need to See:

• BS in Engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical, Systems, or related discipline), or equivalent practical experience.
• 10–15 years of experience in engineering build planning, manufacturing, operations, or NPI execution.
• Strong combination of technical understanding, operational execution, and program leadership.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Experience working directly with contract manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors.
• Deep understanding of NPI cycles, supply chain processes, and material planning systems.
• Solid experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP) and data-driven planning tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required (may exceed ~30% for certain projects)

Ways to Stand Out:

• Demonstrated strong leadership, ownership, and accountability mindset —you lead from the front & drive results.
• Fast executor with a “speed of light” mentality : decisive, action-oriented, and comfortable driving progress with incomplete data.
• High energy, resilient under pressure, and able to maintain momentum through complexity.
• Assertive, confident, and effective at influencing across functions and organizational levels.
• Deep understanding of technology and passionate about what you do.
• Strong collaborator with ability to communicate at all levels and work across functions.

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