NPI Material Program Manager​/Onsite​/Mountain View, CA

Our client, an automotive technology leader, is hiring for a contract NPI Material Program Manager. This is an onsite position in Mountain View, CA.

The NPI Material Program Manager leads end-to-end material readiness and supply chain execution for new hardware programs from concept through Start of Production (SOP). Sitting at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing, this role ensures the right materials are available for prototype builds, validation, and production ramp—on time, at the right cost, and at the required quality. The role drives supplier readiness, manages risk and change, and aligns cross-functional teams to enable successful product launches.

• Experience managing material readiness across hardware NPI phases (EV/DV/PV) through SOP, including build support and ramp.
• Strong working knowledge of BOM maturity, part release workflows, and engineering change control (ECO/ECR) in a product lifecycle environment.
• Hands‑on experience driving supplier readiness (capacity planning, tooling status, lead‑time confirmation) and resolving material shortages.
• Proven ability to identify and mitigate supply risks (long‑lead items, single‑source dependencies, semiconductor constraints).
• Working knowledge of PLM/ERP systems and supply planning tools (e.g., SAP, Teamcenter) and creation of dashboards/trackers for material visibility.
• Familiarity with semiconductor supply chains and allocation/constraint management.
• Experience partnering with contract manufacturers / build partners for prototype and production builds.

• Own end-to-end material readiness for hardware NPI programs from concept through SOP.
• Develop and maintain material readiness plans aligned to program gates (EV, DV, PV) and build schedules.
• Track BOM maturity, part releases, and engineering changes (ECOs), ensuring timely downstream execution.

• Partner with sourcing to align supplier selection with program timelines and technical requirements.
• Drive supplier readiness, including capacity planning, tooling status, tooling kick‑offs, and lead‑time confirmation.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks (long‑lead items, single‑source dependencies, semiconductor constraints).

• Align design releases with material availability in close collaboration with hardware engineering, manufacturing, quality, and logistics.
• Support prototype and pre‑production build planning and execution (kitting, delivery timing, build readiness).
• Monitor material shortages and drive resolution to protect builds and production ramp.

• Lead recurring material readiness reviews and communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to stakeholders.
• Maintain action tracking, and escalation paths to enable fast decision‑making and issue resolution.
• Provide clear visibility into schedule, cost, quality, and supply health.
• Establish scalable NPI material management processes for hardware programs, including standards for tracking and handoffs.
• Implement tools and dashboards that improve visibility into readiness, shortages, and risk.
• Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement across programs and suppliers.