NPI Lead

Coherent•East Granby, CT

15h

About The Position

Lead NPI programs through the full phase-gate process; Serve as the central coordination point between PLM, R&D, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, and Supply Chain to align priorities, actions, and timelines. Develop and maintain program plans, milestone trackers, action registers, risk assessments, and status updates to ensure visibility and accountability. Coordinate the transition of new products, processes, or technical capabilities from development into production, ensuring readiness for manufacturing, quality, documentation, and operational support. Organize and lead phase-gate reviews, readiness reviews, technical reviews, and post-launch lessons learned. Identify technical, manufacturing, quality, and schedule risks early; drive mitigation plans with the appropriate functional owners. Support development and technical activities where needed, including experiment planning, data review and technical troubleshooting. Partner with Engineering and Operations to improve manufacturability, repeatability, yield, process capability, cycle time, and overall production readiness. Ensure required documentation is created, reviewed, and released, including specifications, process documentation, test requirements, control plans, technical drawings or equivalent documentation, and qualification records. Track launch and readiness metrics, communicate program status to stakeholders and leadership, and escalate barriers when needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related technical discipline
Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience
Strong technical background with experience in product development, process development, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or technical program management
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects across R&D, PLM, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and customer-facing teams
Experience with phase-gate, product lifecycle, qualification, manufacturing readiness, or design transfer processes
Strong communication, organization, risk management, data analysis, and independent execution skills, with the ability to support technical troubleshooting and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

Lead NPI programs through the full phase-gate process
Serve as the central coordination point between PLM, R&D, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, and Supply Chain to align priorities, actions, and timelines
Develop and maintain program plans, milestone trackers, action registers, risk assessments, and status updates to ensure visibility and accountability
Coordinate the transition of new products, processes, or technical capabilities from development into production, ensuring readiness for manufacturing, quality, documentation, and operational support
Organize and lead phase-gate reviews, readiness reviews, technical reviews, and post-launch lessons learned
Identify technical, manufacturing, quality, and schedule risks early; drive mitigation plans with the appropriate functional owners
Support development and technical activities where needed, including experiment planning, data review and technical troubleshooting
Partner with Engineering and Operations to improve manufacturability, repeatability, yield, process capability, cycle time, and overall production readiness
Ensure required documentation is created, reviewed, and released, including specifications, process documentation, test requirements, control plans, technical drawings or equivalent documentation, and qualification records
Track launch and readiness metrics, communicate program status to stakeholders and leadership, and escalate barriers when needed