Senior Manager of Technical Operations NPI

Job Description

About the Company

We are seeking a hands-on, execution-focused Sr. Manager of Technical Operations to lead our contract manufacturer and sub-supplier operations, New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing engineering, and manufacturing test engineering for our LiDAR products. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across a multi-site supplier network while ensuring readiness for builds, launches, and volume production.

About the Role

The ideal candidate will partner closely with engineering and supply chain teams to support engineering builds, product launches, and scalable manufacturing, while improving quality, yield, and supplier performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract manufacturers and sub-suppliers to deliver high-quality products on schedule and at scale.
• Partner with the Global Supply Management team on supplier selection, onboarding, and ramp-up activities.
• Own manufacturing technical deliverables, including manufacturing test, manufacturing engineering, and quality readiness.
• Troubleshoot production issues, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with EMS partners and cross-functional teams including systems, hardware, software, reliability, and supply chain to support product launches and ongoing production.
• Drive yield improvement, test robustness, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Define, implement, and manage the operational NPI process.
• Develop and maintain the quality management system for manufacturing operations.
• Ensure manufacturing partners maintain required certifications and compliance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrialization, or a related field; MBA, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, production operations, or technical operations.
• Hands-on experience managing multiple contract manufacturers across Asia, North America, and/or Europe.
• Working knowledge of electro-optical systems.
• Experience using data analysis and statistical methods to improve yield, reliability, and process performance.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to support builds and troubleshooting at partner sites as needed.

Required Skills

• Experience with electronics, LiDAR systems, or optical sensing technologies.
• Exposure to automotive manufacturing or other high-reliability products.
• Working knowledge of electrical manufacturing processes (including FCT test and SMT) and mechanical manufacturing processes (including tooling and machining).
• Understanding of ISO standards and certification.

Location: Pleasanton, CA - 3 days/week on-site

Pay range and compensation package

$180-225k base + RSUs & Bonus

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices.