Contract Manufacturing Program Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Contract Manufacturing (CM) Program Manager to own our outsourced production and act as the primary link between SambaNova and our third-party manufacturing partners. In this role you will manage program schedules, product cost, quality metrics, and supply chain continuity to ensure our CM partners deliver on time, on budget, and to specification.

You will operate across the full electronics manufacturing stack — from PCBA through system build and rack integration — partnering closely with engineering, procurement, quality, and supply chain to move products from NPI through volume ramp. The ideal candidate is hands-on, comfortable driving accountability across multiple vendors, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where scale and speed both matter.

Responsibilities

Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and drive them to on-time delivery and performance goals.
• Serve as the single point of contact and escalation path between SambaNova and its manufacturing partners.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Align internal teams — including engineering, procurement, and quality assurance — with external factory floors.
• Translate internal product requirements and build plans into clear, executable direction for CM partners.

Schedule and Cost Control

• Track production milestones against committed build plans and drive recovery when schedules slip.
• Manage program budgets and negotiate cost productivity improvements with CM partners.

Risk and Change Management

• Identify and mitigate supply chain disruptions before they impact customer commitments.
• Own engineering change orders (ECOs) through the product lifecycle, ensuring clean cut-in at the CM and minimal excess/obsolete exposure.

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure manufactured goods meet regulatory guidelines and SambaNova quality standards.
• Partner with quality assurance on yield, containment, and corrective action for field and factory escapes.

KPIs and Business Reviews

• Monitor KPIs across delivery, quality, and cost, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with CM partners, including scorecard reviews and improvement commitments.

Special Assignments

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, business, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in contract manufacturing, electronics, or hardware production operations.
• Direct experience in electronics manufacturing from PCBA through rack integration.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP) and Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Advanced negotiation, leadership, and multi-vendor program management capabilities.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing global CM partners and suppliers for L10–L12 assemblies.
• Knowledge of NPI processes and scaling manufacturing operations through volume ramp.
• Experience with BOM structures and ECO, MCO, and deviation processes.
• Background in data center, server, or AI infrastructure hardware.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to CM partner sites as needed.

Why This Role Matters

SambaNova’s ability to deliver AI systems at scale depends on our manufacturing partners executing flawlessly. This role owns that outcome — your work directly determines whether we hit customer delivery commitments, hold our cost targets, and ship products that meet our quality bar as we expand into new customers and regions.