Product Operations Associate

Aston Carter•Sunnyvale, CA

8d•$50 - $58•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Operations Associate supports the full hardware product lifecycle, with a focus on bill of materials (BOM) management, change order control, configuration management, and build readiness across the new product introduction (NPI) process. This role works closely with engineering, operations, supply chain, and international contract manufacturers to ensure accurate configurations, timely product updates, and smooth transitions from prototype builds to mass production for cutting-edge hardware devices and customer terminals.

Requirements

2–4 years of experience in a similar role in hardware NPI, manufacturing operations, or product development.
Strong understanding of BOM structures and BOM creation, including complex hardware and subsystem configurations.
Hands-on experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools, specifically Agile and Windchill, for change orders, part numbers, and document control.
Hardware configuration management experience, including device and system-level configuration planning and tracking.
Knowledge of system and device build planning and execution, including prototype and pre-production builds.
Proficiency in advanced Excel functions, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP, for data analysis, BOM validation, and Build Matrix tracking.
Experience performing data analysis to validate configurations, identify discrepancies, and support cost roll-up and operational decisions.
Ability to coordinate effectively across engineering, operations, supply chain, and contract manufacturers.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
Ability to prioritize, multitask, and manage competing deadlines efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Responsiveness and flexibility in managing changing requirements and build schedules.
Bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to consumer electronics, aerospace, hardware devices, or similar industries; 2–4 years of experience in consumer electronics is a plus.
Experience working with international and overseas suppliers or contract manufacturers is preferred.
Familiarity with hardware device building and system building, including customer terminals and related accessories.
Experience with silicon or customer silicon-based products is helpful for effective communication with engineering teams.
Experience in product lifecycle management, configuration management, BOM management, and change order management across NPI phases.
Experience with Agile PLM systems is beneficial for transitioning knowledge to current tools.
Comfort working in an open, collaborative peer environment using tools such as Quip, WorkDocs, or LabCollab Wiki.
Experience supporting engineering teams with BOM creation and management, build matrices, and device allocations for complex hardware programs.
Strong stakeholder management skills, including cross-functional collaboration and communication with suppliers and contract manufacturers.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs) for new hardware products, ensuring accuracy across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and subsystem components.
Ensure BOMs align with design and manufacturing requirements and maintain configuration integrity while eliminating duplicate parts and records.
Oversee part number creation and maintenance, including proper structuring, documentation, and entry into Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
Author, submit, and track Recurring Change Orders (RCOs) in the PLM system, driving timely reviews, approvals, and controlled release of product updates with full traceability.
Manage Non-Recurring Change Orders (NRCs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), ensuring proper routing, review, documentation, and implementation of all engineering changes.
Support prototype and pre-production builds by preparing comprehensive build documentation and coordinating configuration requirements across build phases.
Validate material availability and resolve real-time build issues to keep prototype and pre-production activities on schedule.
Create, maintain, and distribute Build Matrix documents that track SMT, FATP, and subsystem configurations across EVT, HVT, and PVT build phases.
Drive Build Matrix review meetings with cross-functional teams and contract manufacturers to confirm configuration alignment and build timing.
Communicate new parts, BOM updates, and engineering changes to internal teams and contract manufacturers, providing clear visibility into revision status, material impacts, and build readiness.
Partner with Engineering, Component Engineering, Operations, and suppliers to validate components, align on sourcing strategies, and ensure manufacturability and technical compliance.
Perform data analysis using Excel and internal tools to validate BOM accuracy, track build configurations, and support cost roll-up activities.
Analyze Build Matrix data and supplier documentation to identify discrepancies, flag risks, and drive resolution prior to builds.
Drive cross-functional alignment throughout the NPI lifecycle, ensuring BOM accuracy, material readiness, and smooth transitions from prototype to mass production.
Support Change Control Board (CCB) activities and help maintain proper governance of hardware changes throughout build phases.
Use PLM tools for change orders, part number management, and document control to support configuration management processes.
Leverage OPS Central for supplier management, price input, and costing related to hardware builds and materials.
Maintain build documentation and travel matrices in collaboration tools such as WorkDocs or LabCollab Wiki.
Use Excel to perform BOM validation, Build Matrix tracking, and detailed data analysis to support operational decision-making.
Capture meeting notes, planning documents, and collaboration records in tools such as Quip to support transparent communication and team coordination.
Collaborate daily with product development teams and third-party suppliers on BOM and material management for multiple hardware programs.
Submit and manage change order requests in PLM tools, ensuring they are accurately documented and processed in a timely manner.
Support multiple programs and product lines, including customer terminal and accessories programs, by managing BOMs, build matrices, and device allocations.
Coordinate with overseas suppliers and contract manufacturers, including teams in Asia, to support prototype builds and final device configurations before delivery to customers.
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholder requests while maintaining high attention to detail and data accuracy.