Technical Program Manager - Supply Chain & Manufacturing at Exowatt in Austin, TX

Job description

• We are hiring a Technical Program Manager to be the connective tissue between Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Operations. You will own the end-to-end execution of programs that take the P3 from design release through supplier onboarding, NPI builds, and volume production ramp.
• This is a high-ownership role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, can run a critical-path Gantt and a supplier escalation in the same afternoon, and wants to build the program management muscle of a hardware company from the ground up. You will report to the Head of Supply Chain & Manufacturing and work directly with engineering leads, operations, and executive staff.
• This role is based in our Austin, TX facility. Relocation is required, and relocation assistance will be provided if necessary.

Responsibilities

• Own cross-functional program plans across Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations — including milestones, dependencies, critical path, and executive-ready status reporting.
• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) for P3 subsystems and modules: lead phase-gate reviews (EVT, DVT, PVT), coordinate build plans, and close out exit criteria with engineering and ops.
• Manage the supplier program calendar — onboarding, tooling, first-article, PPAP/FAI, and capacity commitments — and hold partners accountable to agreed schedules and deliverables.
• Operate the production ramp: partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to sequence build slots, material availability, and yield targets against committed delivery dates.
• Identify and drive resolution of risks and bottlenecks — component lead times, tooling delays, supplier quality issues, design-change impact — before they hit the critical path.
• Build the program management operating system: cadences, dashboards, risk registers, RAID logs, and change-management processes that scale as we grow from units to fleets.
• Lead BOM release, ECO, and design-change coordination between Engineering and Supply Chain so that changes land on the floor with the right parts, documentation, and training.
• Translate executive-level goals into clear program objectives and KPIs (on-time delivery, landed cost, yield, cycle time) and report progress with the rigor a board-backed hardware company demands.
• Travel to suppliers, contract manufacturers, and our Miami production site as needed to unblock programs in person.

Requirements

• 7+ years of program or project management experience in hardware, with meaningful time spent in supply chain, manufacturing, or operations at a product company.
• Proven track record driving NPI programs from prototype through volume production — ideally for complex electromechanical, thermal, or energy systems.
• Deep fluency in the language of hardware: BOMs, ECOs, PLM, MRP/ERP, tooling timelines, PPAP/FAI, lead times, Incoterms, capacity planning, and yield.
• Strong supplier- and CM-facing experience: you know how to structure a schedule, run an escalation, and make a commitment real.
• Excellent written and verbal communication — you can brief the CEO, align a skeptical engineering lead, and coach a supplier project manager in the same day.
• Bias to action and high comfort with ambiguity; you build the plan when there isn't one and you adjust it faster than conditions change.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related technical field.
• Experience at a venture-backed hardware startup during a manufacturing ramp.
• Background in clean energy, thermal systems, heavy industrial equipment, automotive, or aerospace.
• PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent program management credentials.
• Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, MS Project, Arena/Windchill, and NetSuite (or similar ERP).
• Willingness and ability to work primarily on-site in Austin and travel domestically and internationally to suppliers and partners.

Skills

Required

• Program management
• Project management
• Hardware development
• Supply chain management
• Manufacturing operations
• NPI (New Product Introduction)
• Phase-gate reviews (EVT, DVT, PVT)
• Supplier management
• Contract manufacturing management
• BOM management
• ECO management
• PLM

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity options.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• A dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and innovation.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a rapidly evolving industry.
• Relocation assistance.