What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr HW Technical Program Manager position at VAST Data?
We are seeking an experienced and highly driven Senior Hardware NPI Program Manager to lead the successful introduction of next-generation hardware products from concept through volume production. In this role, you will partner cross-functionally with Hardware Engineering, Operations, Product Management, and Quality teams to ensure flawless execution of product launches. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of managing complex hardware programs, driving schedules and deliverables across global teams, and enabling a seamless transition from development to scalable manufacturing. There will also be opportunities to manage internal HW,SW and Operational projects with partners.
This is a great opportunity to be part of one of the fastest-growing infrastructure companies in history, an organization that is in the center of the hurricane being created by the revolution in artificial intelligence.
VAST Data is the data platform company for the AI era. We are building the enterprise software infrastructure to capture, catalog, refine, enrich, and protect massive datasets and make them available for real-time data analysis and AI training and inference. Designed from the ground up to make AI simple to deploy and manage, VAST takes the cost and complexity out of deploying enterprise and AI infrastructure across data center, edge, and cloud.
Our success has been built through intense innovation, a customer-first mentality and a team of fearless VASTronauts who leverage their skills & experiences to make real market impact. This is an opportunity to be a key contributor at a pivotal time in our company’s growth and at a pivotal point in computing history.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and drive the end-to-end NPI program lifecycle for hardware products, from concept through ramp to sustaining to EOL
- Develop, manage, and track detailed project plans, schedules, risks, and dependencies across multiple functions and suppliers
- Partner with Engineering to translate product requirements into manufacturable designs and processes
- Coordinate with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality to ensure suppliers and factories are ready for builds and scale
- Lead cross-functional meetings, program reviews, and executive updates to communicate status, risks, and recovery actions
- Proactively identify program risks, define mitigation strategies, and drive accountability for execution
- Ensure manufacturing readiness by leading build events (EVT, DVT, PVT, MP) and ensuring exit criteria are met at each stage
- Align stakeholders across engineering, operations, and customer support for smooth product release into the field
- Continuously improve NPI processes and best practices to increase efficiency and scalability
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Program Management, or related technical field; Master’s preferred
- 8 years of experience in program management with a focus on hardware NPI, manufacturing, or complex hardware development
- Strong background in hardware manufacturing processes (PCBA, system integration, mechanical assemblies, cables, etc.)
- Proven ability to manage large, cross-functional, global programs with multiple suppliers and stakeholders
- Experience leading build phases (EVT/DVT/PVT/MP) and driving readiness across engineering and operations teams
- Solid understanding of product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and NPI frameworks
- Excellent communication and executive presentation skills; able to clearly articulate program status, risks, and priorities
- Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail and urgency in execution
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while driving structure and clarity
