Principal Manufacturing Program Manager

As an Astera Labs Principal Manufacturing Program Manager you will play a crucial role in overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of manufacturing projects featuring Astera Labs' portfolio of connectivity ASICs used in the world's leading cloud service providers, server and network OEMs. You will ensure that production processes run smoothly, meet quality standards, and are completed on time and within budget and responsible for manufacturing from NPI to mass production phases. To accomplish that, you will be working closely with designers, the manufacturing team, suppliers, and contract manufacturers. This role is expected to travel up to 40% of the year and will require business English skills.

Job Responsibilities

• Project Planning and Execution
  • Develop Project Plans: Create detailed project plans, including schedules, budgets, resource allocation, and timelines.
  • Coordinate Production Activities: Oversee all aspects of the manufacturing process, ensuring alignment with project goals.
  • Monitor Progress: Track project milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to ensure timely completion.
  • Problem Solving: Address and resolve issues that arise during the manufacturing process to avoid delays.
• Change Management
  • ECO: Drive Engineering Change Order and Deviation processes in product design, manufacturing, and disposition
  • PLM: Use Product Lifecycle Management systems such as Agile, Arena
  • Ability to evaluate change including trade-offs
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  • Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Manage and lead cross-functional teams, including engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and logistics.
  • Facilitate Communication: Ensure effective communication between different departments and stakeholders involved in the manufacturing process.
  • Assign Tasks: Delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members and monitor their performance.
• Budget and Cost Management
  • Manage Budgets: Develop and manage project budgets, ensuring costs are controlled and within budget.
  • Cost Analysis: Conduct cost-benefit analyses and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
  • Financial Reporting: Provide regular financial updates to senior management, highlighting any variances from the budget.
• Quality Assurance
  • Ensure Quality Standards: Ensure that manufacturing processes meet the required quality standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Implement Quality Controls: Develop and implement quality control procedures and processes to minimize defects and rework.
  • Continuous Improvement: Identify areas for improvement and implement lean manufacturing practices to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Supply Chain Management
  • Work closely with Business Operations / Supply Chain team to ensure timely delivery of materials and components.
• Risk Management
  • Identify Risks: Identify potential risks in the manufacturing process, including supply chain disruptions, equipment failures, or quality issues.
  • Develop Mitigation Plans: Create and implement risk mitigation plans to minimize the impact of identified risks.
  • Monitor and Report: Continuously monitor risks and provide regular updates to stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Management
  • Engage Stakeholders: Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
  • Stakeholder Reporting: Prepare and present reports on project progress, challenges, and successes to senior management and other stakeholders.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure Compliance: Ensure that all manufacturing processes comply with relevant industry regulations, safety standards, and environmental laws.
  • Documentation: Maintain accurate documentation of manufacturing processes, quality controls, and compliance activities.
• Technology and Innovation
  • Adopt New Technologies: Identify and implement new technologies and processes that can improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Process Optimization: Continuously seek ways to optimize manufacturing processes through automation, innovation, and best practices.
• Reporting and Documentation
  • Project Reports: Prepare detailed project reports, including progress updates, financial status, and quality metrics.
  • Documentation: Ensure all project documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible for future reference.

Qualifications

• Educational Background
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Required): A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, manufacturing, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
  • Advanced Degree (Preferred): A Master’s degree in business administration (MBA), engineering management, or a related field can be an advantage, especially for leadership roles.
• Professional Experience
  • Relevant Experience: A minimum of 8 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or production environments, with several years in a project management or program management role.
  • Leadership Experience: Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects from concept through production.
  • Industry-Specific Experience: Experience in electronics industry. Experience with high speed / high complexity projects preferred.
• Technical Skills
  • Manufacturing Processes: In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, production techniques, and industry best practices.
  • Project Management: Strong project management skills, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and resource management.
  • Lean Manufacturing: Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies.
  • Quality Assurance: Knowledge of quality management systems (e.g., ISO standards) and quality control processes.
  • Supply Chain Management: Understanding of supply chain management, procurement, and logistics in a manufacturing environment.