New Product Introduction (NPI) Technical Program Manager

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

12h•$124,000 - $186,000•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is hiring an owner-level New Product Introduction (NPI) Technical Program Manager based in South San Francisco, California, with on-site presence required. The role owns launch readiness and product lifecycle execution for new aircraft and major hardware design changes that affect field availability, safety, and fleet capabilities. It works across Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Reliability, Field Engineering, Maintenance, and Fleet Operations to prepare products for build, release, scale, service, and long-term support. The position oversees launches from early builds through phased rollout, production ramp, retrofit campaigns, and post-launch stabilization. It sets release-readiness criteria, creates integrated launch plans, tracks program metrics and risks, and makes launch recommendations or, when authorized, final launch decisions. The role also evaluates design changes and compatibility, manages demand and retrofit planning, resolves build and release issues, supports serviceability improvements, and addresses end-of-life and obsolescence risks to protect supply continuity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
At least 3 years of experience in NPI, technical program management, hardware development, manufacturing operations, or product lifecycle work launching complex electromechanical or aerospace systems.
Demonstrated ownership of NPI launches from prototype through scaled production and field deployment, with measurable reliability and ramp outcomes.
Experience with retrofit programs and managing supplier continuity under schedule pressure.
Strong technical judgment across product architecture, validation data interpretation, compatibility and interchangeability decisions, and schedule, risk, and cost tradeoffs; able to make and defend high-stakes go/no-go decisions.
Practical experience with PLM/ECN workflows, ECOs, build reviews, validation test plans, failure-mode analysis or root cause, and issue-tracking systems.
Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings and bills of materials.
Direct supplier and factory-floor exposure, including the ability to conduct on-site readiness audits and manage supplier mitigation plans.
Ability to operate under high ambiguity and intensity, prioritize escalations, set clear acceptance criteria, and deliver measurable outcomes under tight schedules.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional leadership and executive updates.
Demonstrated experience with complex hardware systems such as robotics, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, or electromechanical products.
History of reducing part proliferation, improving serviceability, or preventing large-scale retrofits.
Based in South San Francisco, California, with on-site presence required.

Responsibilities

Own NPI launch readiness from early builds through phased rollout, production ramp, retrofit campaigns, and post-launch stabilization for aircraft and associated assemblies.
Define and enforce release-readiness gate criteria covering design verification, manufacturing process capability, supplier capacity, service procedures, spares plans, and training.
Make go/no-go launch recommendations to program leadership and, when authorized, own final launch decisions for assigned releases.
Create and maintain integrated launch plans connecting engineering milestones, validation test plans, build schedules, supplier lead times, material readiness, field deployment windows, and rollout logistics across sites.
Track and report schedule, cost, quality, and risk metrics weekly, with clear escalation paths and defined success targets.
Evaluate engineering changes for effects on production, supply chain, service, fleet operations, and customers; recommend whether to proceed, delay, phase, retrofit, substitute, or redesign.
Maintain issue tracking for builds and releases and drive cross-functional issues to measurable closure criteria.
Make technical judgments on launch readiness, compatibility, retrofit strategy, risk buys, serviceability, and supply continuity using product architecture, validation data, field risk, supplier lead times, and operational constraints.
Analyze compatibility of part design changes to determine supersession, interchangeability, and service impact.
Own demand and retrofit planning for product releases and design changes, accounting for trials, validation, materials, deployment constraints, and rollout timing.
Partner with Design Engineering to reduce part proliferation, supply chain complexity, and lifecycle risk.
Collaborate with Field Service Engineering and Engineering Technicians to test designs for serviceability, field repair effectiveness, and fleet support.
Perform end-of-life and obsolescence analyses to protect supply continuity and recommend redesigns or alternate sourcing when appropriate.