Program Manager, New Product Introduction Operations (Npi - Opm)

The third era of AI has arrived, powered by Generative AI. Generative AI is achieving step-function increases in scale, versatility, and accuracy compared to legacy AI technologies, presenting an opportunity for organizations to fundamentally transform their business and operations.

SambaNova Suite™ is enabling organizations and enterprises to achieve the transformative promise of these new AI technologies with a fully integrated hardware-software system that delivers innovation across the full AI stack, including the most accurate generative AI models, optimized for enterprise and government. This creates the AI backbone for the next 10 years and beyond.

Working at SambaNova

We are seeking a highly capable and dynamic New Product Introduction Operations Program Manager (NPI - OPM) to lead our team in successfully launching hardware products on schedule, with superior product quality to scale at mass production.

As an integral part of our fast-paced development and launch process, the NPI - OPM will play a pivotal role in facilitating actions and driving excellence in program/project management. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, possesses exceptional organizational skills, and is relentlessly detail-oriented. They are a skilled communicator at all levels, and their ability to resolve conflicts and motivate teams will be key to their success.

In the role of NPI - OPM, you will be the essential link between the core hardware development team, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, and operations functional units internally at SambaNova while driving the contract manufacturer to support the hardware production schedule. The overarching mission is to ensure a successful product build at JDM/ODM, meeting all schedule, availability, and quality goals.

Key Responsibilities

As the NPI-OPM, you will be:

• Leading our Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) operations team, planning and executing development builds and new product ramps.
• Communication of key operations deliverables (NUDD, MIL, make vs. buy, supplier selection, unit COGS, Capex and NRE budget, validation activities)
• Helping to drive supply chain, manufacturing, and quality process development, ensuring deliverables are being completed on time for a successful project completion
• Defining objectives and metrics for each build with clear exit criteria for each phase to meet schedule, cost, quality, and capacity targets
• Collaborating closely with internal and external teams in the US and Asia to effectively managing schedules, capacity, material availability, quality issues, and product updates.
• Operations inputs to master schedule (material, tooling, and equipment lead times; production ramp forecast)
• Instrumental in ensuring component readiness, guaranteeing part availability, quality, and cost-effectiveness. By effectively communicating requirements and schedules, you will facilitate technical readiness with supply chain teams, thus enhancing product manufacturability, testability, and supply chain responsiveness while ensuring cost-efficiency and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Managing the following:
• The primary point of contact for all communications within the organization, conveying key issues and presenting resolution options to executive teams.
• Build readiness and execution from prototype through production ramp (BOM locked, clear to build, line readiness, test readiness, daily input & output, issue escalation)
• Working with cross-functional teams (engineering, supply chain, production, logistics, and manufacturing engineering groups) to define and lead the detailed development and implementation plan for new products, providing operations input and guidance.
• Tracking progress, communicating, holding the team accountable, and escalating issues as appropriate throughout the build cycle
• Collaborating with cross-functional managers and individual contributors to run program review meetings, providing succinct status updates, soliciting critical input, and communicating risks

Basic Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing/operations or engineering-related environment
• Demonstrated experience working with engineering teams and managing OEM communication

Additional Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated clear and consistent communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to confidently present to management.
• Proven track record of being results- and action-oriented, driving projects to successful completion.
• Willingness and ability to travel if needed
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated with an innate ability to lead several work streams effectively.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail while managing complex projects.

Annual Salary Range and Level

The base salary for this position ranges from $174,000/year up to $200,000/year. This range is based on role, level, and location and reflects the salary target for new hires in the US. Individual pay within the range will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s job-related qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location.

Benefits Summary

SambaNova offers a competitive total rewards package, including the base salary, plus equity and benefits. We cover 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance, and 80% premium coverage for dependents and offer a Health Savings Account(HSA) with employer contribution. We also offer Dental, Vision, Short/Long term Disability, Basic Life, Voluntary Life and AD&D insurance plans in addition to Flexible Spending Account(FSA) options like Health Care, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care. Our library of well-being benefits includes a full subscription to Headspace, access to One Medical, counseling services with an Employee Assistance Program, and much more.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at SambaNova Systems you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified.

If you are a new, recent (within the last two years), or upcoming college graduate and are interested in opportunities with SambaNova Systems, please apply through our University job listings.

EEO Policy

SambaNova Systems is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art AI capabilities to meet the demands of the AI-enabled world. Our purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing. We enable customers to unlock the valuable business insights trapped in their data. Our flagship offering, SambaNova Suite™, provides the most accurate generative AI models, optimized for enterprise and government organizations, deployed on-premises or in the cloud, and adapted with an organization’s data for greater accuracy

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, SambaNova Systems was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries, that include hardware and software design experts from Sun/Oracle and Stanford University. Investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital, GV, Walden International, Temasek, GIC, Redline Capital, Atlantic Bridge Ventures, Celesta, and several others. Visit us at sambanova.ai or contact us at [email protected]. Follow SambaNova Systems on LinkedIn.