Hardware Engineering Program Manager - VPG

The Vision Products Group (VPG) In-Region Engineering Program Management (EPM) team is seeking a highly motivated Hardware EPM ready to take on complex challenges and perform world-class program management for cutting-edge technologies.

This is a highly results-oriented role focused on exciting new product development. You will work directly with in-region and global EPMs, HW/SW Engineering functions, and our Contract Manufacturing (CM) partners to navigate complex engineering development cycles. Ultimately, you will enable and lead cross-functional teams working toward a shared goal: delivering extraordinary Apple products to the world.

• NPI Build Management: Lead the end-to-end execution of complex hardware builds (from PoC through PVT), managing input plans, build matrices, and daily NPI factory operations to ensure on-time delivery and meet high yield targets.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the central hub aligning diverse engineering groups (including EE, DFM, PE, and Test) across US and Asia timezones to execute process validations, DOEs, and technical debugs.

• Vendor Accountability & Mentorship: Drive Contract Manufacturer (CM) performance by hosting operational and talent reviews, enforcing clear Failure Analysis (FA) policies, and pushing vendors to build independent analytical and technical capabilities.

• Process Innovation: Identify bottlenecks on the NPI factory line and partner with engineering teams to successfully qualify and roll out new manufacturing processes, equipment, and standards without impacting throughput.

• Early Engagement & Bring-Up: Manage early-stage local development of flex, PCB layout, bridging the gap between initial design concepts and factory-ready manufacturing plans. Risk Mitigation & Reporting: Anticipate technical, schedule, and resource constraints (such as lab space and equipment headcount), presenting clear, proactive solutions to management before they impact the critical path.

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of meaningful experience as a Project or Program Manager developing hardware products in the consumer electronics industry.
• Recent experiences in consumer electronics hardware development.
• Proven track record of effectively coordinating cross-functional technical collaboration across different time zones.
• Demonstrated experience managing Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and driving NPI factory build execution.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical issues into clear executive summaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with board-level (MLB) or System-in-Package (SiP) HW/SW triage and failure analysis.
• Deep understanding of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and advanced manufacturing processes.
• Ability to leverage AI tools to analyze manufacturing yield data, identify defect trends, and accelerate root cause analysis.
• Comfort using AI-assisted dashboards or analytics tools to monitor production KPIs and flag risks proactively.
• Willingness to apply AI productivity tools to structure failure mode analysis (e.g., FMEA) and prioritize issue resolution during NPI stages.
• Openness to using AI to synthesize cross-functional inputs and support data-driven decision-making under tight production timelines.
• Ability to leverage AI writing tools to efficiently produce engineering reports, issue logs, and executive summaries.
• Willingness to use AI tools to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable updates for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience or interest in using AI-enhanced project management workflows to track milestone progress, surface schedule risks, and coordinate action items across teams.
• Ability to apply AI tools for scenario planning and contingency assessment during critical production build phases (EVT / DVT / PVT).