Hardware Program Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations to lead final assembly and test (FA&T) operations for enterprise-class hardware products-including servers, storage systems, network equipment, and machine learning/AI accelerator platforms. This executive will own the end-to-end manufacturing operations strategy and execution within an assigned regional Manufacturing network of production facilities, driving world-class quality, throughput, cost efficiency, and on-time delivery at scale. In this role, you will be the execution leader for Manufacturing Operations within your assigned regional sites accountable for all aspects of final assembly, system integration, functional test, and product shipment across a multi-site manufacturing network.

You will define the multi-year manufacturing operations roadmap, build high-performing teams, and transform complex production environments into lean, scalable operations that deliver enterprise hardware at industry-leading quality and velocity. As the Senior Manager, you will bring deep, tenured experience in high-mix, high-complexity hardware manufacturing-having personally led organizations through product transitions, capacity ramps, yield improvement cycles, and operational transformations. You will navigate highly dynamic environments where product mix, customer demand, and technology transitions require rapid adaptation-making high-judgment decisions that balance quality, cost, throughput, and delivery reliability.

This role requires exceptional operational leadership, deep technical understanding of server/storage/network hardware architectures, and the ability to influence across engineering, supply chain, quality, and executive leadership to deliver customer commitments globally.
Key job responsibilities
Final Assembly & System Integration Operations
1. Own end-to-end final assembly operations for enterprise hardware products (servers, storage arrays, network switches/routers, and ML/AI accelerator systems) across multiple manufacturing sites
2. Drive production readiness for new product introductions (NPI), ensuring manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions are validated and qualified before volume ramp
3

Establish and optimize production line layouts, material flow, and workstation design to maximize throughput, minimize cycle time, and ensure ergonomic safety standards
4. Lead regional/site level capacity planning and production scheduling to meet customer demand signals, managing complex trade-offs between product mix, line utilization, and delivery commitments
5. Drive the manufacturing execution system (MES) strategy, ensuring real-time visibility into WIP status, station-level yields, and production bottlenecks
6.

Drive continuous improvement through lean manufacturing principles, kaizen events, and value stream mapping to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency
Test Engineering & Quality Operations
1. Manage the functional test, system-level test, and burn-in/stress test operations for all enterprise hardware platforms, ensuring products meet rigorous quality and reliability standards before shipment
2. Support test coverage optimization-balancing fault detection effectiveness against test time and cost to achieve industry-leading defect escape rates
3.

Lead root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA) processes for field returns, test escapes, and production quality issues, driving systemic improvements back into the manufacturing process 4. Establish and maintain statistical process control (SPC) programs, monitoring critical-to-quality (CTQ) parameters across assembly and test operations
5. Partner with hardware engineering and test development teams to define Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT) requirements for next-generation products 6.

Own outgoing quality metrics including DPMO, first-pass yield (FPY), and customer-reported defect rates, driving year-over-year improvement targets
Operational Leadership & Team Development
1. Lead and develop a multi-site manufacturing operations organization including production managers, test engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing technicians
2. Build a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization
3.

Establish clear performance management frameworks, career development paths, and succession planning for manufacturing leadership roles
4. Drive organizational capability building in areas such as advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, and data-driven decision making
5. Foster cross-functional collaboration between manufacturing operations, hardware engineering, supply chain, and customer fulfillment teams
6.

Own the talent strategy for manufacturing operations, including workforce planning, skills development, and retention programs for critical technical roles
Supply Chain & Vendor Manufacturing Partnership 1. Serve as the senior manufacturing operations regional leader interfacing with contract manufacturing (CM/OEM/ODM) partners, driving accountability for quality, delivery, and cost performance
2. Execute the manufacturing readiness review (MRR) process for new product introductions, ensuring partners meet qualification gates before volume production authorization
3.

Drive supplier quality management programs including incoming material inspection, vendor scorecards, and corrective action processes
4. Lead make-vs-buy analysis and manufacturing footprint strategy decisions, optimizing the balance between internal and external production capacity 5. Partner with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure material availability supports production schedules, driving Clear to Build (CTB) readiness across all product lines
6.

Establish joint continuous improvement programs with manufacturing partners, driving cost reduction roadmaps and operational efficiency gains
Data, Metrics & Operational Excellence
1. Define and own the manufacturing operations KPI framework including OEE, throughput, cycle time, first-pass yield, on-time delivery, and cost-per-unit metrics
2. Design and maintain executive dashboards providing real-time visibility into production health, quality trends, and delivery performance across all sites
3.

Drive adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies including IoT-enabled production monitoring, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven quality inspection systems
4. Develop scalable mechanisms and automation to reduce manual effort in production reporting, defect tracking, and capacity planning
5. Craft compelling data-driven narratives for executive reviews, translating complex operational data into strategic recommendations that shape investment priorities
6

Lead digital transformation initiatives in manufacturing operations, including MES modernization, automated test equipment upgrades, and smart factory capabilities
Strategic Planning & Transformation
1. Define and drive the 3-5 year manufacturing operations strategy, identifying capability gaps, technology investments, and capacity expansion priorities
2. Lead manufacturing transformation programs including automation deployment, advanced robotics integration, and lights-out manufacturing initiatives
3.

Drive strategic initiatives to improve manufacturing agility including flexible line configurations, rapid changeover capabilities, and multi-product qualification
4. Own the capital expenditure planning process for manufacturing operations, building business cases for equipment investments, facility expansions, and technology upgrades
5. Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks including single points of failure, capacity constraints, quality systemic issues, and workforce availability challenges
6.

Write high-quality strategic documents and investment proposals that shape manufacturing priorities at the executive level, communicating trade-offs, risks, and recommendations with clarity
A day in the life
As the Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations, you are the operational heartbeat of enterprise hardware production. Your day balances strategic leadership with hands-on operational engagement:
1.Review overnight production output, yield data, and quality metrics across global manufacturing sites, triaging any blockers or missed targets with site leaders
2.Lead morning production stand-up with assembly, test, quality, and materials teams to align on the day's priorities, escalations, and recovery plans
3.Deep dive into line-level performance-analyzing station yields, cycle time variances, and test failure Pareto data to identify systemic improvement opportunities
4.Conduct Gemba walks on the production floor, engaging directly with technicians and engineers to understand challenges and validate process improvements
5.Support NPI readiness reviews for upcoming product launches, ensuring manufacturing process validation, test coverage, and quality gates are on track
6.Present weekly operational reviews to executive leadership, highlighting throughput performance, quality trends, delivery risks, and strategic recommendations
7.Work with contract manufacturing partners on capacity planning, quality improvement initiatives, and cost reduction roadmaps
8.Close out the day reviewing next-week production forecasts, staffing plans, and ensuring material flow supports the build schedule