The Principal Supply Chain Product Engineer is a recognized technical leader responsible for ensuring that products are designed, validated, and manufactured with robust, scalable, and cost-effective test solutions. This role serves as a key advisor across Product Engineering, Test Engineering and New Product Introduction (NPI) through mass production activities within Manufacturing, ensuring seamless transition from design to high-volume production. The role partners closely with design, quality, and external partners to deliver high-quality, reliable products while optimizing test coverage, yield, and cost.
Internal Responsibilities
Strategic Product Leadership
- Define and drive enterprise-level product and test strategies aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, and operational goals.
- Lead NPI readiness and manufacturing ramp strategies to ensure successful product launches.
- Partner with executive leadership to identify test risks and opportunities that impact business performance.
Test Product Engineering & Validation
- Lead the development and deployment of manufacturing test strategies, including functional, parametric, environmental, and reliability testing.
- Lead product engineering activities supporting manufacturing, including generating test requirement documents, engineering change implementation, driving root cause analysis and resolution of product related issues in production and field.
- Optimize test coverage, cycle time, and cost while maintaining product quality and compliance.
- Oversee test equipment design, validation, calibration, and lifecycle management.
- Implement advanced test technologies, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency and insight.
- Establish KPIs to test performance monitoring, efficiency and manufacturing readiness.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Partner with design to ensure smooth product transfers from development to manufacturing.
- Establish robust validation processes and pilot builds.
- Drive readiness reviews, risk assessments, and launch performance tracking.
Manufacturing & Operational Excellence
- Lead test initiatives across manufacturing operations to improve process capability, yield, reliability, and operational efficiency.
- Identify and eliminate production inefficiencies and test bottlenecks
- Establish test requirements and validation strategies for new manufacturing processes and technologies.
- Provide technical leadership during critical manufacturing escalations and quality containment events.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Operations to ensure alignment on product requirements and execution.
- Support supplier selection and qualification for test equipment and capabilities.
- Act as a key liaison between engineering and manufacturing teams globally.
Complex Problem Solving & Risk Management
- Lead investigation and resolution of high-impact quality issues affecting manufacturing, suppliers, customers, or field performance.
- Utilize advanced statistical analysis, structured problem-solving methodologies, and risk assessment techniques to identify root causes and drive sustainable corrective actions.
- Establish escalation frameworks and risk mitigation strategies for critical quality events.
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Serve as a mentor and coach for Product Engineers and cross-functional technical teams.
- Lead development of test engineering standards, methodologies, and training programs.
- Influence organizational culture through technical leadership and knowledge sharing.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, product engineering or test engineering roles.
- Significant experience within electronics, hardware, semiconductor, high-tech manufacturing, or complex supply chain environments.
- Proven track record of supporting high volume manufacturing and complex product portfolios.
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale test initiatives and cross-functional programs.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.
Technical Expertise
- Deep knowledge of product lifecycle management (PLM), configuration control, and engineering change processes.
- Strong expertise in manufacturing test methodologies, test system design, and validation processes.
- Experience with DFM, DFT, DFR, and reliability engineering principles.
- Familiarity with automation, data acquisition systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
- Background in test automation, software-driven testing, and data analytics platforms.
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Strong communication and executive presentation abilities.
- Ability to manage complex programs and competing priorities.
- Track record of successful product launches and manufacturing scale-ups.
- High level of integrity, accountability, and adaptability.
Work Environment & Travel
- Combination of office, lab, and manufacturing environments.
- Travel required (~25%) depending on product lifecycle and location
External Responsibilities
Strategic Product Leadership
- Define and drive enterprise-level product and test strategies aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, and operational goals.
- Lead NPI readiness and manufacturing ramp strategies to ensure successful product launches.
- Partner with executive leadership to identify test risks and opportunities that impact business performance.
Test Product Engineering & Validation
- Lead the development and deployment of manufacturing test strategies, including functional, parametric, environmental, and reliability testing.
- Lead product engineering activities supporting manufacturing, including generating test requirement documents, engineering change implementation, driving root cause analysis and resolution of product related issues in production and field.
- Optimize test coverage, cycle time, and cost while maintaining product quality and compliance.
- Oversee test equipment design, validation, calibration, and lifecycle management.
- Implement advanced test technologies, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency and insight.
- Establish KPIs to test performance monitoring, efficiency and manufacturing readiness.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Partner with design to ensure smooth product transfers from development to manufacturing.
- Establish robust validation processes and pilot builds.
- Drive readiness reviews, risk assessments, and launch performance tracking.
Manufacturing & Operational Excellence
- Lead test initiatives across manufacturing operations to improve process capability, yield, reliability, and operational efficiency.
- Identify and eliminate production inefficiencies and test bottlenecks
- Establish test requirements and validation strategies for new manufacturing processes and technologies.
- Provide technical leadership during critical manufacturing escalations and quality containment events.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Operations to ensure alignment on product requirements and execution.
- Support supplier selection and qualification for test equipment and capabilities.
- Act as a key liaison between engineering and manufacturing teams globally.
Complex Problem Solving & Risk Management
- Lead investigation and resolution of high-impact quality issues affecting manufacturing, suppliers, customers, or field performance.
- Utilize advanced statistical analysis, structured problem-solving methodologies, and risk assessment techniques to identify root causes and drive sustainable corrective actions.
- Establish escalation frameworks and risk mitigation strategies for critical quality events.
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- Serve as a mentor and coach for Product Engineers and cross-functional technical teams.
- Lead development of test engineering standards, methodologies, and training programs.
- Influence organizational culture through technical leadership and knowledge sharing.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, product engineering or test engineering roles.
- Significant experience within electronics, hardware, semiconductor, high-tech manufacturing, or complex supply chain environments.
- Proven track record of supporting high volume manufacturing and complex product portfolios.
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale test initiatives and cross-functional programs.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.
Technical Expertise
- Deep knowledge of product lifecycle management (PLM), configuration control, and engineering change processes.
- Strong expertise in manufacturing test methodologies, test system design, and validation processes.
- Experience with DFM, DFT, DFR, and reliability engineering principles.
- Familiarity with automation, data acquisition systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
- Background in test automation, software-driven testing, and data analytics platforms.
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Strong communication and executive presentation abilities.
- Ability to manage complex programs and competing priorities.
- Track record of successful product launches and manufacturing scale-ups.
- High level of integrity, accountability, and adaptability.
Work Environment & Travel
- Combination of office, lab, and manufacturing environments.
- Travel required (~25%) depending on product lifecycle and location
