Technical Program Manager, Operations & Manufacturing

Job description

About Tacit We are an early-stage, deep tech startup based in San Francisco, developing innovative hardware that rethinks human-computer interaction. We are backed by General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, and Greylock Partners, with a founding team from Stanford, BrainGate, Oculus, and Tesla. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, our team is tackling cutting-edge engineering challenges to bring revolutionary products to life. ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Technical Program Manager (TPM), Operations & Manufacturing to lead the hardware scaling transition from late-stage engineering design into high-volume manufacturing. In this role, you will serve as the primary operational bridge between internal engineering teams, global contract manufacturers (CMs), joint development manufacturers (JDMs), and component suppliers. You will take ownership of manufacturing readiness, assembly process definition, factory test deployments, supply chain alignment, and unit economics. This is an end-to-end, hands-on program management position ideal for someone who thrives on translating engineering blueprints into scalable, repeatable, and cost-effective production systems across EVT, DVT, PVT, and mass production ramps. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Manufacturing Ramp & Operational Execution - Own the operational and manufacturing program schedule, aligning factory readiness milestones with product development timelines and launch dates. - Manage NPI builds (proto, EVT, DVT, PVT) on-site and remotely with contract manufacturers to ensure zero-defect transitions into high-volume mass production. - Coordinate line bring-up, capacity planning, yield tracking, and cycle-time optimizations across global manufacturing sites. - Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & Process Control - Partner with manufacturing and quality engineers to author, review, and standardize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mechanical assembly, functional testing, and station setups. - Develop clear, repeatable factory rework and repair workflows to handle non-conforming units safely and efficiently without impacting line output. - Audit manufacturing lines and assembly steps to enforce strict process discipline, station-level safety, and ESD compliance. - Test Engineering & Station Deployment - Collaborate with internal hardware and test engineering teams to deploy automated assembly and test infrastructure (ICT, FCT, EOL) to factory floors. - Ensure manufacturing test stations, calibration equipment, and custom fixtures are built, qualified, and correlated prior to major production builds. - Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions (8D, CAPA) for assembly line stoppages and test yields drops. - Supplier Management & Supply Chain Tracking - Manage day-to-day engagement with key component suppliers, tier-1/tier-2 vendors, and CM account leadership. - Track critical supply chain deliveries, long-lead components, and buffer stock levels to mitigate line-down risks and material shortages. - Maintain clear visibility into Bill of Materials (BOM) health, single-source risks, and component end-of-life (EOL) transition plans. - Cost Architecture & Unit Economics - Track, model, and optimize product BOM costs, tooling NREs, scrap costs, and factory assembly/test labor rates. - Identify and drive cost-reduction initiatives across design modifications, alternate component sourcing, and factory yield improvements without compromising quality. - Negotiate manufacturing allocation fees, fixture costs, and volume-based rebates with supply partners. REQUIREMENTS - Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related technical discipline. - Experience: 5+ years of experience as a TPM, Operations Engineer, NPI Manager, or Manufacturing Engineer bringing complex hardware products to market at scale. - CM/JDM Leadership: Proven track record of managing tier-1 Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and overseas vendor bases through NPI phases into mass production. - Process Documentation: Hands-on experience drafting, validating, and auditing shop-floor assembly, test, and repair SOPs. - Supply Chain & BOM Management: Demonstrated experience tracking multi-tier supply chains, lead times, inventory allocations, and product BOM costs. - Technical Breadth: Strong foundational understanding of mechanical assembly methods, PCBAs, surface-mount technology (SMT), automated test stations, and quality control systems. - Travel Flexibility: Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 25–35%) to factory sites during key build cycles and production ramps. STRONG CANDIDATES MAY HAVE - Experience with hardware products containing complex electro-mechanical assemblies, optics, high-density PCBAs, or battery systems. - Direct experience with DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturability / Assembly) principles and conducting line balancing and time-motion studies. - Proficiency with Agile, Arena, or similar PLM tools for BOM tracking and ECR/ECO execution. - Fluency in Mandarin, Vietnamese, or other manufacturing-hub languages is a strong plus. - Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt). SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKE - On-Time Ramps: Product launches hit scheduled EVT, DVT, PVT, and Mass Production gates without material delays or factory downtime. - High Factory Yields: Assembly line yields and test pass rates consistently meet or exceed target metrics at each build stage. - Documented Consistency: Clear, foolproof SOPs allow CM operators to assemble, test, and repair hardware with minimal error and zero safety incidents. - Predictable Economics: Unit costs (BOM + MVA) remain tightly controlled, with clear line-item visibility and cost-reduction roadmaps. - Transparent Supply Pipelines: Clear, real-time visibility into component delivery timelines prevents part shortages during key build windows. COMPENSATION RANGE $160,000 - $200,000/yr plus significant equity. BENEFITS - Competitive equity package - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance - Company size: 30-50 people - Unlimited PTO - Visa sponsorship - 4% 401k matching