Senior Technical Program Manager – Hardware Quality, Supplier & FRU Programs

Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead hardware quality and supplier management programs across the full product lifecycle, from NPI through sustaining and end of life, with a strong focus on Field Replaceable Units (FRUs). This role owns supplier quality and FRU readiness across our contract manufacturers, OEMs, and component suppliers. The goal is that every platform VAST ships can be supported in the field with qualified, compliant, and available spare parts.

This role sits on the Operations team and works closely with Hardware Engineering, Customer Support, Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, and Service Logistics to drive our supplier quality roadmap and key initiatives. You will turn failure data into action: driving root cause analysis with suppliers, tracking corrective actions to closure, and leading projects that improve product quality, supplier manufacturing processes, and FRU readiness.

The ideal candidate is data-driven, with a strong technical understanding of x86-based server and storage hardware and a structured problem-solving background. They bring proven experience in closed-loop failure analysis, supplier quality metrics, change control, and service parts operations, combined with exceptional program management, organizational, and communication skills.

This role requires a highly organized and execution-focused leader who can manage multiple priorities, hold suppliers accountable to quality and delivery commitments, coordinate engineering, operations, and support teams, and identify and mitigate risks before they reach customers.

This is a great opportunity to be part of one of the fastest-growing infrastructure companies in history, an organization that is in the center of the hurricane being created by the revolution in artificial intelligence.

VAST Data is the data platform company for the AI era. We are building the enterprise software infrastructure to capture, catalog, refine, enrich, and protect massive datasets and make them available for real-time data analysis and AI training and inference. Designed from the ground up to make AI simple to deploy and manage, VAST takes the cost and complexity out of deploying enterprise and AI infrastructure across data center, edge, and cloud.

Our success has been built through intense innovation, a customer-first mentality and a team of fearless VASTronauts who leverage their skills & experiences to make real market impact. This is an opportunity to be a key contributor at a pivotal time in our company’s growth and at a pivotal point in computing history.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Own the supplier quality and FRU program roadmap, and set priorities against product launches, supply risks, and field quality issues.
• Lead cross-functional hardware quality and supplier programs from NPI through production, sustaining support, and end of life.
• Manage schedules, milestones, risks, dependencies, and executive status reporting for supplier quality and FRU programs.
• Run the program operating rhythm: weekly supplier and FRU reviews, monthly cross-functional reviews, and quarterly supplier business reviews, with clear owners, decisions, and actions.

Supplier Quality & Lifecycle Management

• Own quality performance for contract manufacturers, OEMs, and component suppliers, including supplier scorecards. Influence, negotiate, and drive accountability with suppliers.
• Lead the analysis of failure data from testing, production, and the field with Quality Engineering and suppliers to identify trends, patterns, and root causes across PCBs, components, connectors, cables, and system-level hardware.
• Program-manage closed-loop failure analysis with suppliers using 8D / RCCA, FMEA, 5 Whys, and fishbone (Ishikawa) methods, and track supplier corrective actions to on-time closure.
• Lead quality and process audits at supplier and CM sites against ISO 9001 and related standards.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects to design, implement, and validate better test protocols, manufacturing processes, and quality controls that prevent repeat failures.
• Develop, track, and report quality KPIs, including defect rates, yield, reliability, field failure rates, no-fault-found (NTF) rates, and RMA trends, and turn findings into supplier and engineering actions.

FRU Program Leadership

• Own FRU readiness as a gate in NPI and ECO release, covering FRU part number creation, breakdown BOMs, FAI, packaging, test and imaging processes, and depot stocking plans.
• Work with Engineering and Support to define FRU breakdown for each platform (nodes, drives, NICs, fans, PSUs, boot drives), and document OEM warranty paths where a FRU is not practical.
• Partner with Service Logistics, Planning, and CMs on FRU forecasting, sourcing rules, and purchase execution so depots have coverage at launch and through end of service life.
• Define FRU test, return, and failure analysis requirements, and make sure test records are complete before stock reaches depots.
• Drive the install-base and compatibility data needed for Support to select the correct FRU for each customer configuration and software release.

Cross-Functional Execution & Communication

• Drive alignment across Hardware Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Service Logistics, Support, and suppliers.
• Facilitate supplier reviews and issue resolution meetings.
• Ensure clear ownership, accountability, and execution of deliverables across all stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain program plans, quality dashboards, FRU readiness trackers, status reports, and operational metrics.
• Create and maintain failure analysis reports, root cause documents, process improvement plans, supplier quality requirements, test and return/FA requirements, and FRU procedures.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and explain complex data clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Manufacturing), Computer Science, or a related technical field. Advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of Technical Program Management experience in enterprise hardware, storage, or data center technologies, preferably on x86-based platforms.
• Background in supplier quality, quality or process engineering, or hardware operations.
• Strong hardware and electronics knowledge, including PCBs, components, connectors, cables, and system-level hardware.
• Strong experience managing contract manufacturers, ODM/OEM partners, and component suppliers.
• Hands-on experience with failure analysis, 8D/RCCA, FMEA, statistical process control (SPC), PCN/ECO change control, and supplier corrective action programs.
• Experience leading supplier quality and process audits.
• Experience with FRU / service parts programs, RMA processes, and depot or spares operations.
• Strong understanding of the hardware product lifecycle, including NPI, qualification, sustaining, component transitions, and EOL.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving, risk management, and execution skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with enterprise server, storage, or AI infrastructure platforms (for example x86 servers, SSDs, NICs, and enclosures).
• Familiarity with quality systems and standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, APQP/PPAP, and FAI.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, DMAIC, or similar quality frameworks.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Excel, Python, R, or other statistical software.
• Experience with hardware product design, testing, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with PLM and ERP systems (for example Propel, NetSuite, or Salesforce) and service parts planning tools.
• Knowledge of regional product compliance and certification requirements (BIS, CE, UKCA, and others).
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, or similar project management tools.
• PMP certification preferred. ASQ CQE or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt a plus.
• Experience working in a start-up environment: fast-paced, adapts well to change, and comfortable with change management and control.
• Collaborative leadership style with strong communication skills.