Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM)

Tacit

$160K — $180K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience leading cross-functional hardware programs in consumer electronics
  • Proven ability to manage a master schedule for hardware builds, prototyping, and manufacturing readiness
  • Strong understanding of electrical, mechanical, firmware, and manufacturing processes
  • Experience coordinating design and testing activities with external partners in different time zones
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for clear reporting and updates
  • Demonstrated ownership and ability to create structure in ambiguous situations

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end hardware program plan from concept through launch
  • Build and maintain an integrated master schedule for all hardware-related processes
  • Drive weekly cross-functional syncs and milestone reviews
  • Manage dependencies and risks to ensure program objectives are met
  • Run program management fundamentals like risk registers and change control
  • Translate product intent into requirements and acceptance criteria with engineering
  • Coordinate with contract manufacturers and suppliers throughout the development process
  • Communicate progress and needs to leadership effectively and clearly

Benefits

  • Competitive equity package
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • 3% 401k matching
  • Visa sponsorship available
Full Job Description
About the role

Our core sensing technology has been validated, and we are now transitioning from research prototypes to a consumer-ready product.

We are hiring a Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM) to be the backbone of hardware execution across electrical, mechanical, RF, firmware, manufacturing, and operations. This person will own the integrated program plan end-to-end, keep teams aligned on milestones and tradeoffs, and ensure we ship hardware that is reliable, testable, and manufacturable.
What you'll do
  • Own the end-to-end hardware program plan from concept through prototype builds, EVT/DVT/PVT, production ramp, and launch.
  • Build and maintain the integrated master schedule across hardware, firmware, manufacturing test, supply chain, and ops.
  • Drive crisp execution rhythms: weekly cross-functional syncs, milestone reviews, and decision logs.
  • Manage cross-team dependencies, identify critical paths, and ensure work is appropriately sequenced to de-risk the program.
  • Run program management fundamentals:
    • Risk register, issue tracking, mitigations, and escalation paths.
    • Build readiness reviews and phase-gate checklists.
    • Change control for requirements, scope, and schedule.
  • Partner with engineering leads to translate product intent into clear requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria.
  • Coordinate contract manufacturers, ODMs, and key suppliers through design, build, test, and yield improvement.
  • Communicate status to leadership with clarity: progress, tradeoffs, risks, and resourcing needs.
  • Raise the bar on documentation quality so knowledge is shared and decisions are durable.
Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience leading cross-functional hardware programs, ideally for consumer electronics.
  • Demonstrated experience owning and reporting a master schedule for hardware builds, prototyping, validation, and manufacturing readiness.
  • Strong systems intuition across multiple domains (EE, ME, firmware, DFM/DFA, manufacturing/test, validation and reliability), with the ability to represent disciplines outside of your own.
  • Experience working with external partners (CM/ODM/suppliers), including coordinating design, build, and test activities across time zones.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication. You are known for clarity, concision, and follow-through.
  • High ownership and comfort operating in ambiguity. You can create structure without becoming bureaucratic.
Strong candidates may have
  • Experience building or scaling a phase-gate hardware development process.
  • Experience with wearables, audio products, RF-constrained systems, or power-constrained products.
  • Experience standing up manufacturing test and reliability processes in partnership with test/NPI teams.
  • Familiarity with tools like Jira/Linear/Asana, Confluence/Notion, and schedule management tooling.


Compensation Range

$160,000 - $180,000 plus significant equity.
Benefits
  • Competitive equity package
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Company size: 20-30 people
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Visa sponsorship
  • 3% 401k matching

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