Hardware Engineering Planning & Operations Program Manager

Hardware Engineering Planning & Operations Program Manager

We're looking for a highly organized, execution-focused Program Manager to join Hardware Engineering's Operations team and take ownership of high-impact initiatives in our resource management efforts, focused on labor and vendor management. Our mission is to systematically enable and improve HWE's business and operational outcomes. This is an amazing opportunity to work with a passionate team who make a direct impact on Hardware Engineering's ability to operate and develop products efficiently.

Description

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, moves fast, and can build strong relationships to collaborate with a variety of partners. In this role, you will design and implement a vendor management and tracking system that enables you and the organization to leverage complex datasets for strategic decision-making. You'll develop scalable systems, streamline and optimize operational processes, and provide data-driven insights to guide key decisions. If you're a strategic, resourceful leader who's passionate about optimizing critical operations and supporting a world-class Hardware Engineering organization, we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

Design and scale data-driven resource-management processes, ensuring systems and workflows are resilient and transparent. Engage with cross-functional partners to drive consensus, define clear objectives, and manage competing tradeoffs within the vendor management and software space. Build, manage, and interpret complex datasets to surface trends, risks, and opportunities; translate data into actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners and senior leadership. Develop clear, concise leadership-ready communications that to drive data-driven decisions. Support vendor needs throughout the project lifecycle by aligning leaders and cross-functional partners around clear expectations. Lead end-to-end vendor operations, including outreach, onboarding processes, and ongoing coordination with cross-functional partners. Drive forecasting, scenario modeling, and capacity planning to support headcount and vendor strategy. Foster collaborative problem-solving across stakeholders with differing objectives, facilitating consensus and maintaining momentum in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments. Continuously improve processes and tooling, identifying automation opportunities and implementing scalable solutions to increase operational efficiency. Identify program risks early, escalate appropriately, develop mitigation strategies, and manage dependency graphs across vendors and internal teams.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent experience. 5+ years of program management experience, ideally in fast-paced or high-growth environments. Experience in business intelligence (preferred), or in related areas such as labor planning, vendor management, or workforce planning. Strong background in analytics and data-driven problem-solving skills, with a history of leveraging datasets, metrics, and models to inform strategic decisions. Strong analytical skills with a track record of using data to inform decisions. Proven ability to lead enterprise programs, including planning and change management. Ability to break down large, ambiguous initiatives into clear, actionable plans and drive them to execution. Experience in requirements gathering and analytical scoping, performing deep-dive analyses, and delivering clear, insight-rich presentations to senior leaders. Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships, resolve conflicts, and drive alignment across cross-functional teams and leadership. Comfort with ambiguity and change in dynamic, high-growth environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree, or equivalent experience 8+ years of program management experience, with 2+ years experience in Labor Planning, Vendor Management, Workforce Planning, or Business Intelligence. Demonstrated understanding of key factors that drive resourcing needs for hardware development programs, and ability to work with engineering teams to bridge technical requirements with operational processes Experience managing partner expectations and fostering strong, productive relationships across internal and external teams. Familiarity with compliance and governance requirements related to vendor management. Experience with process automation, workflow optimization, or tooling to scale vendor operations. Strong analytical experience with a passion for evidence- and data-based decision-making. Proficiency with data visualization and BI tools for analysis and reporting.