NPI Build Manager

Arista Networks

About The Position

The NPI Build Manager owns end-to-end execution and operational accountability for New Product Introduction (NPI) builds at assigned Contract Manufacturing (CM) sites, driving programs from Prototype through market launch, including Transfer Qualification (TQ) builds and Early Field Trial (EFT) units. The role partners with Hardware Engineering and cross-functional teams to establish and execute CM build schedules, ensure build readiness, remove critical roadblocks, and hold internal partners and CMs accountable for delivery against Time-to-Market targets. The manager drives alignment on NPI milestones, build quantities, EFT requirements, priorities, and commitments; manages schedules and capacity across concurrent programs; and ensures materials, staffing, tooling, equipment, manufacturing, test, engineering, debug, and rework resources are ready. The role monitors readiness requirements, drives CM execution and recovery plans, escalates operational issues, and provides executive visibility into status, risks, and resolution paths. It also drives CM accountability, lessons learned, best practices, and process improvements, and ensures mass-production purchase order readiness at Pre-Pilot (PPLT).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related relevant field.
5–8 years of experience in NPI, manufacturing, operations, program management, or contract manufacturing.
Experience managing NPI builds and working directly with Contract Manufacturers.
Strong understanding of NPI processes, build readiness, manufacturing operations, and schedule management.
Proven ability to drive execution, manage competing priorities, and deliver against aggressive Time-to-Market targets.
Strong problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to hold internal and external teams accountable.

Responsibilities

Drive alignment with Hardware Engineering on NPI milestones, build quantities, EFT requirements, priorities, and Time-to-Market commitments.
Own and manage CM build schedules across multiple concurrent programs, balancing priorities and capacity to meet committed dates, quantities, and milestones.
Ensure NPI build readiness, including material availability, capacity, staffing, tooling, equipment, manufacturing, test, engineering, debug, and rework resources.
Ensure NPI Material Managers align material availability and CTB with the NPI build schedule and Supply Commit Review (SCR).
Monitor upcoming Arista Build Start Requirements (ABSR) and proactively address readiness gaps.
Drive CM execution of NPI and TQ builds, take corrective action on schedule variance, and enforce recovery plans for at-risk builds.
Serve as the escalation and accountability point for operational issues affecting NPI execution and drive cross-functional resolution of critical-path roadblocks.
Identify opportunities to pull in build schedules, facilitate capacity and allocation decisions between NPI and production, and escalate resource or leadership support needs.
Lead cross-functional alignment among Hardware Engineering, NPI Materials, Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Planning, Quality, POMs, NPI Engineering, and CM teams to deliver build targets.
Partner with POMs to secure product-specific manufacturing, test, quality, and operational requirements affecting build execution.
Maintain executive visibility into build status, risks, recovery actions, and resolution paths, and ensure committed builds are completed successfully and on time.
Enforce CM accountability for NPI execution, own NPI-related inputs and scoring metrics for the CM QBR, and drive corrective actions for recurring execution issues.
Drive lessons learned, standard best practices, and process improvements to improve build readiness, schedule predictability, and CM execution across assigned sites.
Ensure mass-production PO readiness at Pre-Pilot (PPLT).