Platform Technical Program Manager - NPI

About Etched

Etched is building AI chips that are hard-coded for individual model architectures. Our first product, Sohu, supports transformer models and delivers an order of magnitude higher throughput and lower latency than leading GPUs. By moving beyond general-purpose accelerators, Etched ASICs enable entirely new classes of products, including real-time video generation and extremely deep, parallel reasoning systems.

We are a fully in-person team in San Jose (Santana Row) and value engineers and operators who can take complex hardware from design through high-volume manufacturing.

Job Summary

Etched is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead board-level New Product Introduction (NPI), contract manufacturer (CM) execution, and manufacturing coordination for our ASIC-based accelerator hardware. This role is responsible for driving PCBAs and board assemblies from late design through EVT/DVT/PVT, ramp, and volume production, in close partnership with internal hardware engineering teams and external CMs.

You will own execution across board-level programs, including accelerator boards, power delivery boards, and associated subassemblies, ensuring designs are manufacturable, testable, and scalable. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain, with a strong focus on CM alignment, build readiness, and disciplined NPI execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead board-level NPI programs from design freeze through EVT, DVT, PVT, and volume ramp, with clear ownership of schedules, risks, and deliverables.

• Serve as the primary interface to contract manufacturers for PCBA and board assembly, driving build planning, execution, and issue resolution.

• Drive manufacturing readiness reviews with engineering and CMs, including DFM/DFA, test strategy, and factory bring-up.

• Coordinate CM activities across PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, test, and final board integration.

• Manage BOM readiness, AVL qualification, and component sourcing in partnership with supply chain and CMs.

• Own change management during NPI, including ECO tracking, revision control, and communication of changes to manufacturing partners.

• Plan and execute prototype, pilot, and production builds, tracking yield, defects, and corrective actions through ramp.

• Identify manufacturing risks related to design, process, or supply chain; develop mitigation plans and drive closure.

• Establish and track KPIs for board-level manufacturing, including yield, first-pass success, cycle time, and quality escapes.

• Coordinate closely with system, thermal, and mechanical teams to ensure board-level requirements are aligned with system integration and deployment.

• Provide clear, regular program updates to engineering leadership and executives, highlighting risks, tradeoffs, and decisions.

• Continuously improve board-level NPI and CM engagement processes to support faster iteration and scalable production.

You might be a good fit if you have

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.

• 5+ years of experience in technical program management, hardware NPI, or manufacturing program leadership for PCBAs or complex electronic assemblies.

• Hands-on experience working with contract manufacturers for board-level builds, including EVT/DVT/PVT and volume production.

• Strong understanding of PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, board-level test, and manufacturing quality systems.

• Experience managing cross-functional hardware programs involving EE, PD, SI, test, supply chain, and operations.

• Comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with high technical and executional complexity.

• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to align internal teams and external manufacturing partners.

Base Compensation Range

$175,000 – $250,000

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage with generous premium support

• Housing subsidy of $2,000 per month for employees living within walking distance of the office

• Daily lunch and dinner provided in the office

• Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)

How we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson: most progress in AI has come from scaling compute, and the most effective way to scale is through model-specific hardware. As model architectures consolidate, single-model ASICs unlock step-function improvements in performance and efficiency.

We expect our technical leaders to think holistically about hardware, from silicon through boards and manufacturing. At Etched, success is defined not just by a working design, but by the ability to reliably and repeatedly build it at scale.