Technical Program Manager

Apple•Cupertino, CA

About The Position

Lead engineers and other contributors supporting new product development and sustaining operations, ensuring contract manufacturers are ready for very high-volume production. Drive technical operational issues related to SMT and system integration processes through effective closure, supporting the full new product introduction cycle and transition into mass production. Serve as the technical lead for manufacturing operations across multiple vendors and sites. Drive contract manufacturer preparation for pre-production builds; develop, document, optimize, and validate production processes; and implement technologies that improve production quality, capacity, and efficiency. Set standard practices and independently resolve impacts on design approaches and final-product parameters. Provide direction, mentorship, and resources to engineering groups, project leaders, and factory technicians. Lead projects, participate in planning major sub-projects, and regularly communicate program technical health to VP-level stakeholders. International travel is 20–25%. Assignments span several manufacturing engineering functions, including design for manufacturability, product engineering across the product lifecycle, process engineering, and failure and data analysis. Work may include production-support engineering, complex testing methods and failure analysis, developing test and evaluation procedures, compiling data, recommending design changes and assembly standards, and applying Design of Experiments and Six Sigma statistical analysis.

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 assemblies and part-level designs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related engineering field.
At least 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.
Ability to communicate effectively in a worldwide environment.
New Product Introduction and Manufacturing Operations experience.
Validated working experience with DFm and DFx.
Solid understanding of GD&T principles.
Understanding of pneumatics, servomotors, PLCs, and PC-based control systems.
Experience with JMP, Minitab, and Six Sigma.

Responsibilities

Lead engineers and other contributors supporting new product development and sustaining operations.
Ensure contract manufacturers are ready for very high-volume production.
Drive technical operational issues related to SMT and system integration through effective closure.
Lead manufacturing operations as the technical lead across multiple vendors and sites.
Prepare contract manufacturers for pre-production builds.
Develop, document, optimize, and validate production processes.
Develop and implement technologies to improve production quality, capacity, and efficiency.
Set standard practices and independently resolve impacts on design approaches and final-product parameters.
Provide direction, mentorship, and resources to engineering groups, project leaders, and factory technicians.
Act as lead engineer on projects and participate in planning major sub-projects.
Regularly communicate program technical health to VP-level stakeholders.
Provide early and ongoing manufacturing involvement to ensure new products are manufacturable.
Support products through concept, repeat manufacturing, and end of life, including technically complex testing, production support, and failure analysis.
Design and develop processes to improve quality and efficiency.
Plan, develop, and implement test and evaluation procedures for products nearing 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%.