NPI Program Manager

CTS Corporation•Albuquerque, NM

21h

About The Position

A key role responsible for coordinating and managing New Product Introduction (NPI) projects from concept to serial production. The position ensures seamless transition from development to manufacturing by building clear project roadmaps, driving cross-functional collaboration, and maintaining strong communication with internal and external stakeholders. The goal of the role is to enhance quality, improve production efficiency, reduce risks, minimize waste, and accelerate time-to-market.

Requirements

Energetic, motivated individual with a solid background in technical engineering and management skills.
Understanding NPI processes and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).
Knowledge of production engineering, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
Ability to concurrently handle a variety of projects and coordinate the efforts of the R&D engineering team and cross-functional teams.
Required excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities.
Analytical thinking and ability to work with technical data and documentation.
Bachelor of engineering or equivalent experience in electronics and/or acoustics Engineering field.
Demonstrated experience as program manager.
Demonstrated positive communication and human relation skills.
Strong computer skills including SAP, Microsoft Project, and MS office.
Applicants must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Advantage: knowledge of piezoelectric technology, Lean Manufacturing principles, and Six Sigma methodology.
Preferable experience with piezo technology and manufacturing of ceramic components.
Experience with development of ultrasonic sensors and transducers based on PZT components.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate NPI projects across the organization, ensuring alignment and effective communication between R&D, Production Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Customer.
Take lead and drive technical interaction between CTS and customer, including escalation of technical or process-related issues. Capture and communicate requirements in an understandable manner in project charter.
Accountable and responsible for all NPI steps and documentation from definition and design feasibility to production/market release; manages project scope and any necessary scope changes; create, maintain, and track project plans, milestones, and schedules to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.
Coordinates, along with engineering and finance, cost estimates for new products to provide sales and product management as a basis for pricing.
Create and maintain material masters, BOMs and routers for new products and process flows and facilitate and ensure entry into SAP and release.
Develop NPI standard guidelines and tools to define standard process capabilities
Initiate prototype, Tier 3 and low volume orders and manage through the production line.
Organize and lead day-to-day project activities including weekly NPI project reviews, meetings, and regular reporting to management and customers.
Lead weekly review of new and existing projects with manufacturing and R&D engineering and highlight areas of support needed and key next steps.
Procure adequate resources to achieve project objectives to delegate tasks and responsibilities in planned timeframes.
Work with manufacturing to ensure proper documentation and work instructions are available for new products.
Prepare and maintain documentation related to internal production inspections (IPI) and process support.
Lead the Product Readiness Review process to ensure all quality and production requirements are met prior to serial launch.
Work closely with the R&D and Process Engineering team and Quality to perform design reviews; act as the owner of the DR4 phase, responsible for the complete collection of data and documentation required for release of new products to manufacturing on a timely (especially for high-runner products).
Contribute to the continuous improvement of industrialization processes and the management of Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
Lead and support Lean and Six Sigma projects – initially at the Green Belt level, with the ambition to progress to Black Belt certification.
Support the Sales and Product Management teams during new product customer audits and readiness reviews.