Senior Staff Operations Program Manager

About the role

The Senior Staff Operations Program Manager at D Matrix is entrusted with owning the complete lifecycle of manufacturing readiness and execution for our hardware products, driving seamless alignment between engineering design and factory production. This role requires direct stewardship of cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that our generative AI ambitions translate into physical products without compromising on schedule, cost, or quality. The hire will champion a culture of respect and direct communication, leveraging diverse perspectives to solve complex operational challenges. They will be the operational anchor between our internal teams and external contract manufacturers, maintaining rigorous accountability for execution. Success in this position means delivering products that meet target cost and quality gates while navigating the inherent complexities of hardware development. The role demands humility paired with the confidence to drive decisions that keep the production pipeline moving efficiently. Ultimately, this position shapes the operational backbone that supports the company's mission to push the boundaries of AI technology through innovative software and hardware integration.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead cross-functional manufacturing programs from initial concept definition through end-of-life management, owning schedule adherence, scope control, cost governance, and proactive risk identification.
• Drive detailed build planning and execution activities for EVT, DVT, PVT, and Mass Production phases specifically at contract manufacturer sites, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Define, implement, and track quantifiable exit criteria for each NPI phase, including yield metrics, cycle time measurements, first pass yield, and established quality gates.
• Maintain and evolve integrated master schedules that capture critical path dependencies across hardware design, firmware development, tooling procurement, and supply readiness status.
• Own the development and maintenance of the Manufacturing Readiness Plan, covering process flow optimization, station layout design, fixture and tooling readiness, test coverage validation, and comprehensive operator training protocols.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering to validate in-process capability indices such as Cpk, drive Design for Manufacturing feedback into engineering iterations, and qualify all production lines before ramp initiation.
• Lead and monitor production ramp activities, tracking key performance indicators like overall yield, throughput rates, rolled throughput yield, scrap percentages, and work-in-progress levels to drive corrective actions.
• Coordinate the implementation of Engineering Change Orders and Engineering Change Notices within the factory environment, ensuring clean cut-over to new processes with minimal disruption to ongoing output and productivity.
• Partner with Commodity Managers and Supply Chain Planning teams to synchronize material availability, lead time expectations, and clear-to-build status with detailed build plans and forecast demands.
• Conduct detailed capacity assessments to confirm that contract manufacturer lines, equipment availability, and labor resources can support forecasted demand volumes without bottlenecks.
• Identify potential supply chain risks at the earliest opportunity, developing robust mitigation plans and escalating constraints to leadership with well-defined options and actionable recommendations.
• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for day-to-day interactions with contract manufacturers and key tier-1 suppliers, fostering strong working relationships.
• Orchestrate regular program review sessions, facilitate daily build huddles during critical NPI and ramp periods, and prepare concise executive readouts highlighting program health and critical issues.
• Translate highly complex manufacturing data, risks, and trade-offs into clear, actionable communication tailored for engineering, operations, and executive leadership audiences.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or another closely related technical discipline that provides a foundational understanding of production systems.
• Bring a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, New Product Introduction, or operations program management specifically within high-volume consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive sectors, or other complex hardware product environments.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of successfully taking products through the complete NPI cycle, including EVT, DVT, and PVT phases, and efficiently ramping processes to stable mass production conditions.
• Possess a strong working knowledge of diverse manufacturing processes, including Surface Mount Technology assembly, Printed Circuit Board Assembly, plastics and metals fabrication techniques, mechanical assembly methods, and final test and validation procedures.
• Have hands-on experience collaborating directly with contract manufacturers, Original Design Manufacturers, and tier-1 suppliers, including extensive work based within Asia, understanding regional operational nuances.
• Show proficiency in interpreting detailed engineering drawings, Bills of Materials, Approved Vendor Lists, Engineering Change Orders, and complex test data to inform manufacturing decisions.
• Exhibit excellent program management capabilities, consistently managing multiple concurrent priorities, complex timelines, and shifting requirements under strict deadlines without compromising accuracy.
• Apply strong analytical skills, utilizing statistical tools for data analysis, conducting thorough yield analysis, and consistently making data-driven decisions to resolve production challenges.
• Communicate with exceptional written and verbal skills, demonstrating the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels, from technical specialists to senior executives.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically for up to 20% of the time to engage with contract manufacturer sites, engineering teams, and supply chain partners as required by project needs.
• Compliance with all company policies, quality standards, and security protocols necessary for protecting sensitive product information and intellectual property within a hardware development environment.

Nice to have

The SOURCE document does not specify any Nice to have qualifications or preferred skills for this role.

Practical notes

This position requires domestic travel for up to 20% of the time to visit contract manufacturer sites and engineering facilities as project needs dictate. The engagement is full-time employment, and the role is based in Santa Clara, California, with a requirement to be on-site at contract manufacturer locations as the project schedule demands. There are no specific compensation details published for this position in the available SOURCE information.