Senior Operations Program Manager

Viasat, Inc. • Tempe, AZ

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a Senior Operations Program Manager to join our dynamic team in Tempe, AZ! This hybrid role offers the unique blend of working collaboratively within our Tempe office and the flexibility of remote work.
This highly technical Senior Operations Program Manager (OPM) acts as the single point of accountability and a critical bridge between engineering and operations to ensure the seamless transition of innovative products from concept through high-volume launch and scale. This individual leads the core cross-functional team, integrating functions like engineering, manufacturing, quality, and the supply chain. Leveraging a technical engineering background, the OPM is responsible for driving new product development into production, focusing on delivering world-class, high-visibility products on time, at scale, and at the highest quality.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline (e.g. Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial).
• A minimum of 7+ years of experience in roles such as program management, product operations, or engineering (a mix of these is highly preferred).
• A proven track record of successfully taking complex technical products from development into mass production.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills, problem-solving ability, and high attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to effectively influence and align both cross-functional internal teams and external partners.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, navigate ambiguity, and consistently deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Direct contract manufacturing experience.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• US Citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in engineering or an MBA.
• Direct experience managing Contract Manufacturers (CMs).
• A deep understanding of supply chain operations, quality systems, and product lifecycle management (PLM).
• Prior leadership experience or a demonstrated ability to grow into a managerial role.
• An active security clearance is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the complete product lifecycle from initial development through mass production, ensuring the readiness of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions.
• Partner with engineering to influence product design, focusing on manufacturability, testability, cost, and scalability.
• Drive program execution, strategically balancing technical details and trade-offs to meet objectives for schedule, quality, and cost.
• Develop and implement a manufacturing test strategy that satisfies all program requirements.
• Identify and implement process/hardware improvements to boost the speed, quality, and scalability of new product introductions (NPI’s).
• Communicate program status, including risks and recovery plans, to executive leadership clearly and confidently.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees