Hardware Engineering Program Manager - VPG

Apple

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vision Products Group (VPG) In-Region Engineering Program Management (EPM) team is seeking a highly motivated Hardware EPM ready to take on complex challenges and perform world-class program management for cutting-edge technologies. This is a highly results-oriented role focused on exciting new product development. You will work directly with in-region and global EPMs, HW/SW Engineering functions, and our Contract Manufacturing (CM) partners to navigate complex engineering development cycles. Ultimately, you will enable and lead cross-functional teams working toward a shared goal: delivering extraordinary Apple products to the world.

Requirements

2+ years of meaningful experience as a Project or Program Manager developing hardware products in the consumer electronics industry.
Recent experiences in consumer electronics hardware development.
Proven track record of effectively coordinating cross-functional technical collaboration across different time zones.
Demonstrated experience managing Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and driving NPI factory build execution.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical issues into clear executive summaries.
Hands-on experience with board-level (MLB) or System-in-Package (SiP) HW/SW triage and failure analysis.
Deep understanding of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and advanced manufacturing processes.

Nice To Haves

Ability to leverage AI tools to analyze manufacturing yield data, identify defect trends, and accelerate root cause analysis.
Comfort using AI-assisted dashboards or analytics tools to monitor production KPIs and flag risks proactively.
Willingness to apply AI productivity tools to structure failure mode analysis (e.g., FMEA) and prioritize issue resolution during NPI stages.
Openness to using AI to synthesize cross-functional inputs and support data-driven decision-making under tight production timelines.
Ability to leverage AI writing tools to efficiently produce engineering reports, issue logs, and executive summaries.
Willingness to use AI tools to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable updates for cross-functional stakeholders.
Experience or interest in using AI-enhanced project management workflows to track milestone progress, surface schedule risks, and coordinate action items across teams.
Ability to apply AI tools for scenario planning and contingency assessment during critical production build phases (EVT / DVT / PVT).

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end execution of complex hardware builds (from PoC through PVT), managing input plans, build matrices, and daily NPI factory operations to ensure on-time delivery and meet high yield targets.
Serve as the central hub aligning diverse engineering groups (including EE, DFM, PE, and Test) across US and Asia timezones to execute process validations, DOEs, and technical debugs.
Drive Contract Manufacturer (CM) performance by hosting operational and talent reviews, enforcing clear Failure Analysis (FA) policies, and pushing vendors to build independent analytical and technical capabilities.
Identify bottlenecks on the NPI factory line and partner with engineering teams to successfully qualify and roll out new manufacturing processes, equipment, and standards without impacting throughput.
Manage early-stage local development of flex, PCB layout, bridging the gap between initial design concepts and factory-ready manufacturing plans.
Anticipate technical, schedule, and resource constraints (such as lab space and equipment headcount), presenting clear, proactive solutions to management before they impact the critical path.
Review and closely drive the readiness of CM factories and build execution on a daily basis (business travel up to 50% required).
Lead cross-functional engineering teams (including EE, DFM, PE, and Test) to execute factory engineering validations, process experiments (DOEs), and resolve complex design or manufacturing issues during NPI builds.
Drive Contract Manufacturer (CM) performance, establishing strong operational metrics and ensuring accountability for yield targets and Failure Analysis/Corrective Action (FACA) capabilities.
Effectively coordinate cross-timezone technical alignment—including SW/Test station debug and HW FA triage—acting as the critical bridge between US-based engineering and Asia-based manufacturing teams.
Understand technical, schedule, and logistical risks, performing accurate assessments and synthesizing clear mitigation plans for leadership review.