Senior Technical Program Manager (NPI)

Job description

At WHOOP, we’re on a mission to unlock human performance. WHOOP empowers members to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives. WHOOP is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager (NPI) to lead manufacturing development and launch execution for new hardware programs. This role owns the manufacturing and operations NPI workstream from early concept through production ramp, working closely with Engineering, Operations, and manufacturing partners to ensure build readiness, factory readiness, issue resolution, and high-quality program delivery. You’ll work closely with Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Quality, CapEx, Supply Chain, and Operations teams, both at WHOOP HQ and at production sites, to ensure our products are developed, validated, and launched on time, at scale, and at the right quality. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience supporting complex consumer electronics or high-volume hardware programs through EVT, DVT, PVT, and ramp, and is comfortable driving decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving launch environments. **RESPONSIBILITIES:** - Own end-to-end manufacturing program execution for a hardware product from early development through mass production launch, serving as the primary manufacturing program lead. - Lead manufacturing readiness across EVT, DVT, PVT, pre-production, and production ramp, ensuring milestones are achieved on schedule and with high quality. - Develop and maintain integrated program plans, build schedules, critical paths, risk registers, issue trackers, and validation milestones across internal teams and manufacturing partners. - Drive manufacturing process development, documentation, optimization, and validation in partnership with Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Quality, and Operations. - Coordinate build planning and execution, including build objectives, factory readiness, equipment deployment, process validation, test integration, issue resolution, post-build closure, and exit criteria for each build phase. - Drive ramp readiness by ensuring yield, throughput, capacity, staffing, equipment, process documentation, and operational handoff criteria are understood, tracked, and achieved before mass production. - Establish and drive the manufacturing NPI operating cadence during critical program phases, including build readiness reviews, cross-functional issue reviews, leadership updates, timely decisions, and accountability across a focused cross-functional team. - Identify program risks early and drive cross-functional issue resolution with clear ownership, root cause analysis, corrective actions, escalation paths, and recovery plans while balancing schedule, quality, cost, and manufacturing readiness. - Communicate clear program status, key decisions, risks, and recovery plans to engineering, operations, and leadership stakeholders. - Build strong working relationships with contract manufacturers and suppliers to ensure successful execution of manufacturing activities and production readiness. - Contribute to improving manufacturing program management processes, documentation, and tools to enable more scalable and predictable NPI execution. **QUALIFICATIONS:** - Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related technical field. - 5+ years of experience in technical program management, manufacturing development, hardware engineering, or a related field. - Experience owning at least one complete hardware product development cycle from prototype through mass production launch, including EVT, DVT, PVT, and production ramp. - Proven ability to independently lead manufacturing programs with cross-functional engineering teams and external manufacturing partners. - Experience working directly with overseas manufacturing partners, particularly in Asia, within consumer electronics or other high-volume hardware industries. - Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including SMT, mechanical assembly, test, validation, and pack-out. - Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and drive decisions across engineering and operations teams. - Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for technical teams and leadership audiences. - Proficiency with Excel, Jira, Confluence, Gantt/scheduling tools, Google Workspace, and PLM systems (Arena preferred). - Willingness to travel internationally up to 25% to support supplier builds, validation activities, and production launches. ***This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office.*** Interested in the role, but don’t meet every qualification? We encourage you to still apply! At WHOOP, we believe there is much more to a candidate than what is written on paper, and we value character as much as experience. As we continue to build a diverse and inclusive environment, we encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply. WHOOP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in [E-verify](https://www.e-verify.gov/) to determine employment eligibility. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. The WHOOP compensation philosophy is designed to attract, motivate, and retain exceptional talent by offering competitive base salaries, meaningful equity, and consistent pay practices that reflect our mission and core values. At WHOOP, we view total compensation as the combination of base salary, equity, and benefits, with equity serving as a key differentiator that aligns our employees with the long-term success of the company and allows every member of our corporate team to own part of WHOOP and share in the company’s long-term growth and success. The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $150,000 - $195,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each range, individual pay is based on factors such as job-related skills, experience, performance, and relevant education or training. In addition to the base salary, the successful candidate will also receive benefits and a generous equity package.. These ranges may be modified in the future to reflect evolving market conditions and organizational needs. While most offers will typically fall toward the starting point of the range, total compensation will depend on the candidate’s specific qualifications, expertise, and alignment with the role’s requirements. Learn more about [WHOOP](https://www.whoop.com/us/en/careers/?srsltid=AfmBOopKmph9d0DLBlogZu8mx6do0dzjNS8eJlfc4PQqQtdU6F8DGKBg).