Hardware NPI Project Manager

Object First is seeking a Hardware NPI Project Manager to drive operational readiness and on-time deployment of new hardware products. The role coordinates cross-functional launch plans, risks, approvals, and handoffs, while owning BOM updates and targeted post-launch lifecycle support.

Responsibilities:

• Lead cross-functional coordination for new hardware launches, serving as the primary liaison among Product, Engineering, Operations, Marketing, vendors, and suppliers to align requirements, dependencies, decisions, and deployment schedules
• Build and maintain integrated launch plans, readiness checklists, milestones, owners, and deliverables to keep each hardware introduction on schedule
• Identify and assess launch risks, assign and track mitigation actions, escalate blockers when needed, and follow open issues through resolution
• Coordinate the transition from development to production and deployment by confirming that required approvals, documentation, configurations, and operational handoffs are complete
• Coordinate hardware validation and test cycles by aligning schedules, owners, dependencies, and issue resolution, while Engineering retains responsibility for technical test criteria and approval
• Own and maintain the hardware Bill of Materials (BOM) as the operational source of record, incorporating approved component and configuration changes while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and cross-functional alignment
• Coordinate the BOM change-control process by documenting Engineering-approved changes, securing required operational approvals, updating affected records, and communicating implementation timing to stakeholders
• Track cost impacts associated with approved BOM changes and provide clear visibility into material drivers to support leadership decision-making
• Provide targeted coordination for lifecycle transitions, including approved product updates, component substitutions, and end-of-life planning, as needed to maintain hardware continuity
• Serve as the coordination point for significant hardware-related support issues, bringing together Support, Engineering, Operations, and vendors to establish owners, next steps, and escalation paths
• Monitor hardware issues, returns, and warranty trends; identify recurring patterns; and coordinate corrective actions or risk escalations with the appropriate teams
• Track and report launch readiness, milestone completion, schedule adherence, open dependencies, and selected post-launch quality trends
• Monitor RMA volume, warranty usage, and hardware cost drivers to identify emerging risks and inform launch or lifecycle decisions
• Prepare concise status summaries and actionable insights that clarify readiness, surface risks, and support timely cross-functional decisions
• Identify and support cross-functional process improvements that strengthen launch planning, handoffs, documentation, and operational consistency

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or equivalent relevant work experience
• 4+ years of experience managing cross-functional hardware launches, NPI programs, hardware operations projects, or similar initiatives, including ownership of schedules, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder communication
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Project management capabilities, including integrated planning, cross-functional facilitation, decision and dependency tracking, risk management, escalation, and ownership from initiation through deployment
• Ability to discuss technical details with Engineering and translate them into clear project actions
• Ability to establish priorities, maintain momentum across distributed teams, and follow commitments through completion with limited supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical and operational information for cross-functional stakeholders and clearly document decisions, risks, owners, and next steps
• Ability to work independently in a fast-changing, remote environment
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Object First is unable to provide employment visa sponsorship for this role
• Experience maintaining BOMs or hardware configuration records through formal engineering change and approval processes
• Experience with data center hardware, storage systems, server platforms, enterprise appliances, or other complex hardware products
• Experience using hardware quality, warranty, or RMA data to identify trends and coordinate corrective actions with Support, Engineering, Operations, or vendors