NPI Manager

Description

Responsibilities

• Lead the NPI engineering team responsible for successful introduction, validation, and ramp of new PCBA products from prototype through mass production.
• Manage overall NPI program execution, ensuring engineering activities, build milestones, customer requirements, and manufacturing readiness align with program schedules.
• Provide technical and operational leadership for PCBA manufacturing processes, including SMT, through-hole, assembly, inspection, testing, and related production processes.
• Partner with Program Management, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Test Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production to drive cross-functional NPI execution.
• Oversee NPI build readiness, including material availability, tooling, equipment, documentation, process readiness, programming, test requirements, and production capacity.
• Lead readiness reviews and establish clear action plans, owners, and timelines to resolve risks or gaps prior to NPI builds and production ramp.
• Monitor NPI program performance, identify schedule or technical risks, and drive timely escalation and resolution of issues impacting customer commitments or production milestones.
• Provide leadership and direction to NPI engineers, including workload prioritization, resource planning, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for manufacturing, quality, yield, test, and process issues identified during prototype, pilot, and ramp builds.
• Review PCBA manufacturing performance and key metrics, including yield, defects, cycle time, capacity, build completion, and production readiness, to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure engineering changes, BOM updates, work instructions, process documentation, and customer requirements are properly communicated and implemented throughout the NPI process.
• Support Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and process reviews to identify potential manufacturing risks before product introduction.
• Serve as a primary escalation point for NPI-related technical and operational issues and communicate program status, risks, and recovery plans to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Develop and continuously improve standardized NPI processes, procedures, and best practices to improve launch execution, manufacturing readiness, and transition to mass production.
• Support customer meetings, audits, build reviews, and technical discussions as needed while ensuring NPI activities meet applicable quality, safety, and manufacturing standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field required; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering, product engineering, or electronics manufacturing, with demonstrated experience supporting PCBA manufacturing.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or team management experience within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of PCBA manufacturing processes, including SMT, through-hole, component placement, soldering, inspection, testing, and production assembly.
• Demonstrated experience leading new product introduction from prototype and pilot builds through production ramp and transition to mass production.
• Working knowledge of BOMs, engineering change processes, manufacturing documentation, DFM/DFA principles, and production readiness requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills with experience resolving complex manufacturing, process, quality, and yield issues.
• Ability to manage multiple NPI programs, priorities, and deadlines within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to effectively coordinate Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, Program Management, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems, manufacturing systems, and Microsoft Office applications; SAP experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of quality systems, continuous improvement principles, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Excellent organizational, decision-making, and escalation management skills with the ability to drive teams toward timely resolution of program risks and issues.

Reasons you should work for us:

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Basic life insurance and short-term disability coverage provided by employer.
• Supplemental life insurance and long-term disability coverage options available.
• 401K with employer contribution.
• Personal, Vacation, and Holiday paid time off for all full-time employees.
• Onsite Aurora Health & Wellness Center available for all employees.
• Employees are continuously encouraged to learn and grow their careers in smart manufacturing.