Product Operations Specialist (NPI/PLM)

Aston Carter•Sunnyvale, CA

6d•$50 - $58•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Operations Associate supports end-to-end product lifecycle management for innovative hardware devices, focusing on new product introduction (NPI), bill of materials (BOM) creation, and configuration management. In this role, you partner closely with engineering and operations teams to structure BOMs, manage change orders in PLM tools, and ensure that prototypes and customer-facing configurations are accurately defined and ready for launch.

Requirements

2–4 years of experience in a similar product operations, configuration management, or product lifecycle management role.
Hands-on experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools, specifically Agile and Windchill.
Experience working within hardware configuration management for devices or systems.
Strong knowledge of system and device build planning and execution, including prototype and production builds.
Practical experience with BOM creation, BOM management, and bill matrices for complex hardware products.
Advanced Excel skills, including proficiency with pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and manage stakeholder expectations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proven ability to prioritize, multitask, and manage competing deadlines efficiently.
Bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

Experience with consumer electronics, aerospace, hardware devices, or related industries.
Exposure to silicon-based hardware or customer silicon, with the ability to understand and speak the associated technical language.
Experience working with overseas contractors, particularly suppliers in Asia.
Background in device building, system building, and hardware configuration in complex technical environments.
Familiarity with PLM tools beyond Agile and Windchill is beneficial, especially Townsend or similar internal systems.
2–4 years of exposure in consumer electronics is a strong plus.
Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills in an open, peer-based environment.
Responsiveness, flexibility, and the ability to thrive in an open, collaborative work culture focused on launching complex hardware programs such as Kuiper customer terminals and accessories.

Responsibilities

Support product development activities by managing lifecycle processes for new and existing hardware products.
Create, structure, and maintain Bills of Materials (BOM) for prototypes and production devices, including complex bill matrices for multiple prototype types.
Enter and track Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), NCOs, and RCOs in the PLM tool (Townsend, previously Agile), ensuring accurate routing to configuration management teams.
Work closely with Engineering and Component Engineers to create and assign part numbers, and ensure they are correctly entered into PLM systems.
Communicate new and updated part numbers to internal cross-functional teams and contract manufacturers to maintain alignment on configurations and builds.
Collaborate daily with product development teams and third-party suppliers on BOM and material management for multiple programs.
Support BOM management and configuration activities in PLM tools for different programs, including customer terminals and accessories.
Develop and maintain build matrices for prototype builds, including planning configurations for builds in Asia and aligning device allocations with project needs.
Handle final product configurations before delivery to customers, ensuring accuracy and completeness of all configuration data.
Apply hardware configuration management practices to device and system builds, ensuring traceability and consistency across versions.
Use advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP) to analyze BOMs, build matrices, and device allocations, and to support reporting and decision-making.
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, including engineering, operations, and overseas contractors, to coordinate system and device build planning.
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
Provide clear verbal and written communication to peers, stakeholders, and external partners regarding BOM changes, configurations, and build plans.
Support Kuiper engineering teams with BOM creation and management, build matrices, and device allocations for programs such as Coco v2, Hugo v2, and mPrimo.
Contribute as a key stakeholder in the NPI process by ensuring product development phases are well defined, organized, and properly documented in PLM tools.