Job Description

Senior Manager - Engineering Operations and Governance

Hybrid - Austin, TX

Salary: $155-165k/yr

The Senior Manager, Engineering Operations and Governance is responsible for establishing, deploying, training, and governing the engineering processes used across the North America Hardware Engineering organization. This role ensures operational excellence by defining and managing processes associated with New Product Introduction (NPI), Sustaining Engineering, Continuous Improvement initiatives, and other cross-functional engineering workflows. A critical part of this role is the development of dashboards, reporting structures, and operational metrics that provide visibility into engineering performance, execution health, and process adherence.

In addition to process ownership, this role oversees global hardware development tools—including the introduction, deployment, and ongoing stewardship of PDM/PLM systems, CAD tools, and other engineering infrastructure platforms. The position ensures that global tool strategies support efficient workflows, consistent documentation, and alignment with regional and global engineering needs.

The Senior Manager also leads the Engineering Change Order (ECO) creation and implementation team as well as the Order Entry Configurator team, which creates and maintains CPQ-based configuration rules to ensure accurate Bill of Materials (BOM) generation for Operations. This team spans two countries, and the position requires strong leadership capabilities to manage and develop staff both locally and remotely.

The ideal candidate will combine strong process governance experience, a deep understanding of engineering operations, excellent people-management capabilities, and the ability to influence cross-regional engineering alignment.

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Engineering Operations and Governance is responsible for establishing, deploying, training, and governing the engineering processes used across the North America Hardware Engineering organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and govern engineering processes for the North America Hardware Engineering organization, ensuring consistency across NPI, Sustaining, and Continuous Improvement workflows.
• Establish operational metrics, performance dashboards, reporting tools, and review forums that provide visibility into engineering execution, throughput, and quality.
• Lead process training activities across engineering teams, ensuring clear understanding, adoption, and compliance with defined workflows.
• Drive process improvements, identify gaps, and implement best practices that elevate engineering efficiency and predictability.
• Own global hardware development tools including PDM/PLM platforms, CAD systems, and supporting engineering IT infrastructure.
• Oversee tool lifecycle management, including evaluation, introduction, rollout, training, and long-term support strategies for engineering tools.
• Manage the Engineering Change Order (ECO) team responsible for creation, review, accuracy, and implementation of engineering changes.
• Lead the Order Entry Configurator (CPQ) team responsible for maintaining rules and logic used to generate accurate and manufacturable BOMs for Operations.
• Ensure alignment between ECO workflows, CPQ configuration logic, product platform rules, and manufacturing/operations requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to ensure engineering processes and tools support broader business objectives.
• Manage, mentor, and develop staff across three countries, ensuring strong communication, engagement, and performance management for both local and remote employees.
• Define governance structures and operate review boards (e.g., Change Control Boards, Configuration Reviews, Tooling Steering Committees).
• Support hardware engineering leadership with operational insights, process analytics, and tool recommendations.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities including decision-making, accountability, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence across global functions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of engineering operations, engineering management, program management, or process governance experience.

Required Skills

• Experience defining and deploying engineering processes across NPI, Sustaining, and Continuous Improvement environments.
• Strong knowledge of engineering tools such as PDM/PLM systems, CAD platforms, and hardware development toolchains.
• Direct experience managing ECO processes, configuration management, or CPQ/Configurator systems for BOM generation.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams across multiple countries or global environments.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to design dashboards, define KPIs, and interpret operational data.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to train, coach, and influence engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and organizational alignment.
• Experience working in hardware product development environments preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with cross-domain systems including mechanical, power electronics, and embedded firmware.
• Experience with 3D Experience, Windchill, or equivalent PDM/PLM systems.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, Creo, Altium, or comparable CAD/ECAD platforms.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies.
• Experience with global engineering organizations and multi-region product platforms.
• Understanding of manufacturing workflows, BOM structures, and configuration management.
• Background in NPI governance, engineering programs, or quality systems.

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