Technical Program Manager

The NPI Program Manager 1 will be expected to support new business opportunities from initiation through prototype and production release. This PM will work with the Senior PM’s, Customer Program Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Operations groups to ensure projects are accurately planned, resourced and executed to schedule and budget. The PM will be responsible for regular reporting of status to both UCT and our Customers teams while delivering customer satisfaction., * Support the quote process according to UCT’s processes for the project

• Support lead PMs introducing or transferring products to manufacturing, from complex subsystems to full turn-key process modules following UCT’s NPI process.
• Direct interaction with customer on product development, transition, and production release.

• Lead Cross Functional Team through NPI process for successful product deliverables to our customers.

• Communication and coordination for all internal and external customers.
• Maintain project status, timeline, and budget
• Identify and mitigate risks early to allow time for resolution
• Drive accountability within department, intercompany and customer

Drive and promote an environment supporting continuous improvement processes through creative problem solving and judicious application of technology

May perform other duties as assigned, The Technical Program Manager I is an individual contributor responsible for planning and executing cross-functional programs for general semiconductor process equipment. This role drives schedule, technical integration, supplier readiness, and customer engagement from development through production ramp. The TPM I operates in a hybrid stage-gate and Agile environment, interfaces heavily with external customers and suppliers, and partners closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to deliver high-precision capital equipment.

Core Responsibilities

• Program Planning and Execution

• Define program scope, milestones, deliverables, and success criteria.
• Build and maintain integrated schedules, resource plans, budgets, and risk registers.
• Track progress, enforce milestone discipline, and escalate issues to stakeholders.

Technical Coordination

• Translate customer and product requirements into technical workstreams and engineering tasks.
• Coordinate mechanical, electrical, controls/firmware, and systems engineering activities.
• Drive design for manufacturability and testability and manage technical tradeoffs.

Customer and Supplier Interface

• Serve as the primary program contact for external customers and suppliers.
• Lead technical reviews, customer acceptance tests, and field readiness activities.
• Manage customer expectations, requirements changes, and technical escalations.

Manufacturing and Ramp Support

• Define production readiness criteria and support manufacturing ramp plans.
• Coordinate supplier qualification, parts readiness, and technical integration.
• Work with procurement and quality to resolve supplier performance and nonconformance issues.

Risk Management and Issue Resolution

• Identify, quantify, and mitigate technical and schedule risks; maintain contingency plans.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for program issues.
• Communicate risk posture and recovery plans to leadership and customers.

Process Improvement and Reporting

• Apply and improve program management practices and tools in a hybrid stage-gate/Agile model.
• Produce clear program status reports, executive summaries, and data-driven metrics.
• Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement across development and production handoffs.

• Able to manage multiple Projects simultaneously and drive team for deliverables
• Self-starter and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Results oriented and adapt at conflict resolution.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in clean room manufacturing environment desired.
• Computer literacy, proficiency with MS Office, SmartSheet, and CAD
• English proficiency required (Other languages are helpful).

Educational/Certification Requirement:

• Professional PM certification strongly desired
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent degree/work experience in a related technical field., * 2+ years project management experience in medical, semiconductor, energy, research, or related capital equipment industries.
• Experience in capital equipment manufacturing in the semiconductor, energy, research, or related industries is preferred.
• Successful track record in managing NPI programs.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: This section is required for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA), · Ability to climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, walk, push, pull and grasp.

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

· Ability to lift over 25 lbs. with assistance.

• Ability to move arms, hands and fingers.
• Ability to sit for sustained periods of time.
• Required to have visual acuity to perform assigned tasks

Environmental Exposure:

· Subject to hazards including electrical current, moving mechanical parts, and exposure to chemicals.

• Subject to frequent interruptions.
• Required to wear personal protective equipment where applicable., * Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Experience: 2-5 years of program or project experience in semiconductor equipment, capital equipment, or complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Role Level: Individual contributor with demonstrated ability to manage multi-discipline technical programs without direct reports.
• Customer Interface: Proven experience working directly with external customers and suppliers on technical programs.
• Technical Skills: Ability to read schematics, understand system architectures, and participate in engineering tradeoffs.
• Tools: Familiarity with Smartsheet, SAP, and Agile PLM is a plus; comfortable using JIRA, Confluence, or equivalent tools.
• Methodology: Experience operating in a hybrid stage-gate and Agile environment for hardware and software development.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication; experience presenting technical status to customers and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad exposure across semiconductor process areas such as deposition, etch, metrology, wafer handling, or packaging.
• Background in firmware, controls, or systems engineering.
• Familiarity with DFx practices, reliability testing, and production ramp metrics.
• PMP or equivalent program management certification.

Core Competencies

• Technical Acumen: System-level thinking across mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Execution Focus: Milestone ownership, schedule discipline, and pragmatic decision making.
• Stakeholder Management: Influence across functions and with external partners.
• Risk Orientation: Proactive risk identification and mitigation.
• Customer Focus: Translate customer needs into clear technical acceptance criteria.
• Analytical Rigor: Use metrics and data to drive program decisions.

Success Metrics

• On-time achievement of program milestones and production shipments.
• Successful supplier qualifications and parts availability at ramp.
• Customer acceptance with minimal post-delivery escalations.
• Achievement of target yield, reliability, and performance metrics during ramp.

Join UCT and be part of the fastest-growing sector in the world! We indirectly touch every semiconductor chip that goes into every smartphone, smart car, and device that uses artificial intelligence. This is a critical time for the semiconductor industry and for UCT - as technology evolves, we evolve with it. UCT is a diverse workplace where every talented employee is committed to continuous innovation, challenging the status quo and exceeding customer expectations. If you are a person with a relentless drive to succeed, a strong focus on quality with a passion for success - join us today!

UCT is looking for a talented Technical Program Manager to join us in Hillsboro, CA!