Technical Program Manager

Apple•Cupertino, CA

About The Position

Lead a team of engineers—including DFx, DFm, test, SQE, and PQE—and other contributors in support of new product development and sustaining operations, ensuring contract manufacturer readiness for very high-volume production. Drive technical operational issues related to SMT and system integration processes through effective resolution to enable operational success throughout the new product introduction cycle and into mass production. The role provides technical leadership for manufacturing operations across multiple vendors and sites, drives contract manufacturer preparation for pre-production builds, and oversees production process development, documentation, optimization, and validation. It also develops and implements technologies to improve production quality, capacity, and efficiency; establishes standard practices; and independently resolves impacts on design approaches and final-product parameters. The position provides direction, mentorship, and resources to engineering groups, project leaders, and factory technicians; leads projects and plans major sub-projects; and communicates program technical health regularly to VP-level stakeholders. International travel is 20–25%. The role performs assignments across manufacturing engineering functions, including design for manufacturability, product engineering, process engineering, and failure/data analysis. Work spans products from concept through repeat manufacturing and end of life, production support for technically complex testing and failure analysis, development of processes to improve quality and efficiency, and planning and execution of testing and evaluation for products approaching release. Failure/data analysis includes specifying tests, compiling data, recommending design changes and final assembly standards, and applying Design of Experiments and statistical analysis using Six Sigma principles.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field.
At least 3 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing.
Excellent project management skills and experience working in a matrix organization, including planning, cost, and delivery.
Proven track record in cost reduction, project management, and engineering design.
Understand and tolerance stack-ups for assemblies and part-level components.
Ability to communicate effectively in a worldwide environment.
Experience with DFm and DFx.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related engineering field and 7+ years of experience introducing products into manufacturing or in high-volume production.
Direct experience leading functional engineering teams such as ME, EE, TE, or DFX.
Experience working with international OEM partners.
New Product Introduction and Manufacturing Operations experience.
Solid understanding of GD&T principles.
Understanding of pneumatics, servomotors, PLCs, and PC-based control systems.
JMP, Minitab, and Six Sigma experience.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for manufacturing operations at multiple vendors and sites.
Drive contract manufacturer preparation for pre-production builds.
Develop, document, optimize, and validate production processes.
Develop and implement technologies that improve production quality, capacity, and efficiency.
Set standard practices and resolve impacts to design approaches and final-product parameters.
Provide direction, mentorship, and resources to engineering groups, project leaders, and factory technicians.
Act as lead engineer on a variety of projects and participate in planning major sub-projects.
Provide regular VP-level communication about program technical health.
Lead technical operational issue resolution for SMT and system integration processes throughout new product introduction and mass production.
Provide early and ongoing manufacturing involvement to ensure new products are manufacturable.
Support products through all phases, from concept to repeat manufacturing and end of life, including technically complex testing methods, procedures, and failure analysis.
Design and develop processes to improve quality and efficiency.
Plan and implement testing and evaluation procedures for products approaching release; specify tests, compile data, and recommend product design changes and final assembly standards.
Use Design of Experiments and statistical analysis based on Six Sigma principles.
Travel internationally 20–25%.