Job SummaryWe're looking for a technically grounded Senior Manager, Program Management - Device to lead end-to-end program execution for consumer devices - spanning mobile imaging systems, IoT, and smart home products. You'll build and lead a team of Program Managers and own overall program health across Hardware, Electrical, Firmware, Image Quality, and Reliability workstreams. '
This role serves as the primary bridge between executive leadership and cross-functional engineering teams, driving alignment on scope, schedule, risk, and milestone readiness from concept through mass production.
Job ResponsibilitiesLead & Develop a High-Performing PM Team- Directly manage Program Managers covering hardware, electrical, firmware, image quality, and reliability disciplines
- Set clear goals, coach for growth, conduct performance reviews, and develop PM career paths
- Build team capability through process improvements, playbooks, and structured lessons-learned integration
Drive Program Execution- Own the master program schedule integrating all functional workstreams across HW, EE, FW, IQ, and Reliability
- Establish and enforce milestone gates with clear entry/exit criteria across all hardware build phases (EVT, DVT, PVT, MP)
- Resolve cross-functional dependencies, resource conflicts, and schedule tradeoffs with speed and clarity
- Lead executive-level program reviews presenting status, risks, and mitigation strategies
Product Management Partnership- Engage during early-phase development to co-develop program schedules, cost frameworks, and resource plans grounded in engineering reality
- Lead governance of feature lock milestones (Feature Concept Lock, Feature Definition Lock, Feature Freeze) to align scope before development begins
- Partner with Product Management to evaluate feature trade-offs balancing schedule, cost, and technical risk
App & Cloud Software Coordination- Define cross-functional interdependencies and integration milestones across device, app, and cloud teams
- Ensure firmware milestones (FC/PC/SC) are mapped against app and cloud software readiness to prevent integration bottlenecks
- Drive regular cross-team integration syncs and escalate unresolved dependency conflicts with clear impact assessments
Hardware, Mechanical & Electrical Development- Track mechanical milestones through design freeze, tooling kick-off, and tool pull cycles; monitor DFM reviews, GD&T compliance, and CMM validation
- Govern EE development milestones from schematic review through PCB/PCBA fabrication and maintain ECO/ECN discipline
- Coordinate prototype planning, part procurement, and factory readiness with Device and Hardware PMs
Firmware, Image Quality & Communications- Partner with the Firmware PM to govern FC, PC, and SC milestones tightly integrated with hardware build schedules
- Oversee IQ milestones across camera and imaging systems through IQ alpha/beta/gold sign-off
- Govern cellular (FCC, PTCRB, carrier acceptance), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other LAN integration milestones and certifications
Reliability & Qualification- Govern reliability test planning covering environmental stress, mechanical durability, MTBF validation, and regulatory certification (FCC, CE, UL, RoHS)
- Track all reliability findings to closure with clear ownership and committed ETAs
Job RequirementsExperience- 10+ years in program management within consumer electronics; direct experience shipping smartphones, mobile communications devices, imaging products, and/or IoT/smart home devices
- 2+ years managing a team of Program Managers or leading a PM function
- Track record of shipping 2+ consumer devices from concept to mass production in an NPI/ODM model
Technical Knowledge- Strong working knowledge of hardware development phases (EVT 12 DVT 12 PVT 12 MP)
- Solid understanding of mechanical design, electrical development, and firmware lifecycle
- Exposure to camera/imaging IQ tuning and reliability testing methodologies
- Experience with ODM/CM partner management including SOW definition, NRE negotiation, and offshore deliverable accountability
Program Management Skills- Expert-level master scheduling (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent)
- Strong risk management - identification, quantification, and mitigation planning
- Experience managing program budgets ($10M+), NRE tracking, and cost-to-complete reporting
Leadership & Communication- Proven success building and retaining a PM team
- Exceptional executive communication - written, verbal, and data-driven
- Comfortable driving clarity across large, globally distributed cross-functional teams
Preferred Qualifications- PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification
- Experience with camera module development, ISP integration, or imaging system NPI
- Background in IoT connectivity stacks (BT, Wi-Fi, Thread/Matter) and their firmware implications
- Familiarity with DFMEA, PFMEA, and structured quality systems (APQP, PPAP)
Essential Job FunctionWhat Success Looks Like- On-time milestone achievement across all functional workstreams
- Phase gate quality - reduction of open high-severity issues at gate entry
- PM team retention, development velocity, and engagement
- Post-launch field reliability performance vs. targets
- Program cost and NRE performance vs. budget
