Business Program Manager (II)

Aquent, a leading talent solutions partner, is thrilled to support a globally recognized technology leader in their search for exceptional talent. This innovator is at the forefront of shaping the digital world, connecting billions, and tackling some of the most complex challenges across diverse industries. They are driven by a mission to empower progress through groundbreaking technology and a culture of continuous innovation. Join a team that values impact, collaboration, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Are you a results-driven program manager skilled at taking hardware from initial design through to scaled manufacturing? In this role, you will act as an Operations Program Manager (OPM) within the Cloud Networking and Optics organization. You will lead New Product Introduction (NPI) initiatives-driving projects spanning optical switches, network interface cards (NICs / PCBAs), and data center networking racks.

Working in a high-velocity environment characterized by rapid delivery cycles (2-6 months) and ambiguous problem spaces, you will bridge internal engineering, quality, and supply chain teams with external Contract Manufacturers (CMs). You will translate early-stage engineering designs into robust, high-volume production builds while finding creative solutions to shift manufacturing schedules to the left.

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  Drive Hardware NPI Execution: Manage end-to-end NPI development builds and lead operational readiness to transition hardware programs smoothly from early design into high-volume, sustaining manufacturing.

  
  
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  Manage Contract Manufacturers (CMs): Spend roughly 60% of your time partnering directly with CM partners to manage build schedules, capacity planning, production ramp-ups, and shop-floor execution.

  
  
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  Partner Cross-Functionally: Lead cross-functional alignment (approx. 40% internal engagement) across Hardware Engineering, Product Introduction (PI), Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance teams.

  
  
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  Navigate Ambiguity & Compress Timelines: Take early-stage, fluid design concepts and build actionable production plans, proactively identifying bottlenecks and driving initiatives to compress schedules and shift delivery dates left.

  
  
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  Lead by Influence: Align diverse technical, operations, and manufacturing stakeholders toward shared milestones without direct authority, fostering collaborative win-win solutions.

  
  
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  Issue Tracking & Risk Mitigation: Track build blocking issues, component readiness, and line challenges using tracking systems (e.g., Buganizer), driving proactive corrective actions to keep milestone dates secure.

  
  
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  Executive Presentation & Data Communication: Prepare and deliver clear status updates, capacity models, and program roadmaps using Google Workspace tools (Sheets, Slides), with openness to leveraging modern visualization and AI tools (such as NotebookLM / Gemini).

  
  
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  Support Manufacturing Site & Project Bring-ups: Support new manufacturing projects and line bring-ups across existing or new partner sites, with occasional domestic (e.g., Texas) or international (APAC) travel as program needs require.

  
  

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  Relevant Experience: 1+ years of demonstrated program management experience in hardware operations, manufacturing, or New Product Introduction (NPI).

  
  
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  Manufacturing & Hardware Acumen: Solid understanding of electronic hardware manufacturing processes. Prior exposure to networking hardware, server racks, fiber/super racks, optics, or PCBAs/ASICs is a strong plus, though transferable hardware NPI experience from consumer electronics, device manufacturing, or cloud hardware is welcomed.

  
  
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  Supply Chain & Operations Fundamentals: Practical grasp of supply chain parameters-including lead times, transit times, purchase order lifecycles, and production capacity calculations.

  
  
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  Partner & CM Management: Proven track record working with external manufacturing partners or contract manufacturers to hold schedules and resolve build blockers.

  
  
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  Influencing Without Authority: Exceptional situational leadership, negotiation, and cross-functional communication skills to guide stakeholders through high-pressure deadlines.

  
  
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  Comfort with Fast-Paced Ambiguity: Demonstrated ability to thrive under short project cycles, adapt quickly to evolving product specs, and maintain organizational clarity.

  
  
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  Core Tooling Proficiency: Proficiency in Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides) or Microsoft Office equivalents for tracking, capacity estimations, and reporting; appetite to learn and experiment with emerging AI-assisted visualization and reporting tools.