Leads end-to-end new product introduction onboarding programs for hyperscaler and strategic customers. Owns planning, execution, milestones, risks, escalations, stakeholder alignment, governance, and executive reporting. Coordinates Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, QA, Supply Chain, and Customer Delivery teams while driving accountability and issue resolution. Requires technical understanding of optical networking, DWDM, and Layer 1 systems, along with strong negotiation, communication, and program management skills.
As a Technical Program Manager within the Global Customer Engineering / Services organization, you will lead end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) onboarding for hyperscaler and critical accounts. You will act as the central program owner driving cross-functional alignment across Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Customer Delivery teams.
The role requires strong execution discipline, technical depth in optical networking, and the ability to proactively identify risks, resolve escalations, and influence decision-making across internal and external stakeholders. You will own the onboarding lifecycle from planning through execution, ensuring programs are delivered on time with high quality and customer satisfaction.
Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Execution
- Lead NPI onboarding programs for hyperscaler and strategic customers from concept to delivery
- Define detailed onboarding plans in collaboration with NPI, Engineering, and Operations teams
- Continuously refine plans based on evolving constraints (technical, supply chain, customer timelines)
- Establish milestones, track progress, and ensure timely delivery of commitments
Risk & Issue Management
- Identify program risks early and define mitigation strategies
- Proactively manage escalations and drive issue resolution across cross-functional teams
- Maintain clear visibility of risks, dependencies, and blockers for stakeholders
- Intervene effectively during critical situations to ensure program continuity
Stakeholder Management & Negotiation
- Drive alignment across internal teams and external customer stakeholders
- Lead discussions, negotiate priorities, and influence decisions to resolve conflicts
- Control and steer conversations during critical program reviews or issue scenarios
- Ensure clear communication and expectation management at all levels
Cross-functional Coordination
- Work closely with Product Management, Engineering, QA, Supply Chain, and Customer Delivery teams
- Secure commitments on deliverables and timelines
- Drive accountability across teams for execution and closure
Operational Tracking & Governance
- Create and maintain detailed action trackers with clear ownership
- Drive rigorous follow-up to ensure closure of all action items
- Establish governance cadence (weekly / executive reviews, customer syncs)
Reporting & Executive Communication
- Develop executive-level dashboards and reports for senior leadership
- Create high-quality PowerPoint presentations for program status, risks, and milestones
- Provide clear, data-driven updates to cross-functional teams and leadership
Program & Execution Excellence
- Strong experience in NPI / product onboarding programs
- Ability to develop structured project plans and execute under ambiguity
- Proven ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously
Negotiation & Leadership
- Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to intervene, influence outcomes, and steer discussions during challenging situations
- Excellent stakeholder management across global and cross-functional teams
Risk Management
- Expertise in identifying program risks and driving mitigation strategies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Technical Expertise
- Solid understanding of networking systems with emphasis on:
- Optical DWDM technologies (preferred)
- Layer 1 networking concepts
- Ability to work with engineering teams on system-level integration challenges
Communication & Reporting
- Strong executive communication skills (written and verbal)
- Ability to create structured dashboards and presentations for leadership
- Experience presenting to senior management and external customers
Operational Discipline
- Strong action tracking and follow-through capabilities
Ability to drive closure across distributed teams
Education & Experience
- 5+ years of experience in Technical Program Management
- 12–15+ years of experience in Software and/or Hardware product environments
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline
Similar Jobs
Cloud • Security • Software • Cybersecurity • Automation
Own and coordinate cross-functional fraud and abuse prevention programs across Trust and Safety, Security, Engineering, Product, Legal, and Finance. Translate abuse trends into prioritized defenses, business cases, metrics, and implementation plans. Partner on payment fraud, chargebacks, account verification, AI-based risk detection, and incident escalation. Drive initiatives to completion without direct authority while balancing fraud risk with legitimate-user experience.
Top Skills:
AIAPIsBilling SystemsIdentity And AuthenticationSubscription SystemsWeb Applications
Big Data • Cloud • Software • Database
Leads strategic, cross-functional security programs with executive visibility and complex dependencies. Establishes standardized program-management practices, roadmaps, metrics, risk management, decision processes, and reporting across the Global Security Office. Drives alignment, resolves trade-offs, improves execution through automation and AI-enabled workflows, and connects security initiatives to company goals, customer trust, resilience, and business outcomes.
Top Skills:
Cloud SecurityConfluenceData PlatformsEnterprise ArchitectureGenerative AiGoogle WorkspaceIamInfrastructure SecurityJIRAProduct SecurityScriptingSecure SdlcThreat ModelingVulnerability Management
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Information Technology • Consulting
Leads complex, cross-functional engineering programs for HPE networking and IT products. Manages schedules, budgets, resources, deliverables, risks, stakeholders, and project teams through product development and implementation. Partners with engineering, manufacturing, management, external organizations, and development teams to resolve escalations, improve processes, integrate technologies, and meet product roadmaps. Provides technical guidance, mentoring, and senior-level communication across matrixed teams.
Top Skills:
AgileAi ToolsDevOpsNetworkingProgram Management SoftwareProject Planning SoftwarePublic Cloud
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
