Technical Program Manager, Manufacturing Operations

About the Team OpenAI’s Industrial Compute organization is building the infrastructure required to develop and operate increasingly capable AI systems at global scale. The Manufacturing Operations team works across Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, Rack Integration, System Enablement, Supply Chain, Logistics, Deployment, and Hardware Operations to convert complex hardware designs into reliable production systems. We partner closely with ODMs, JDMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers to ensure that servers, racks, networking equipment, and supporting infrastructure are manufactured, validated, and delivered at the quality and scale required by OpenAI. About the Role We are seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead manufacturing operations programs across OpenAI’s hardware supply base in Singapore and the broader APAC region. You will own cross-functional execution from new product introduction through production ramp and sustaining operations. You will coordinate manufacturing partners and internal engineering teams around factory readiness, capacity, material availability, build plans, validation, quality gates, issue resolution, and delivery commitments. This role requires strong technical fluency, disciplined program management, and the ability to operate directly with manufacturing partners in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. You should be comfortable working at both the factory floor and executive-review levels, translating complex manufacturing conditions into clear risks, decisions, and recovery plans. This role is based in Singapore and requires regular travel to manufacturing partners across the APAC region. Key Responsibilities - Lead manufacturing operations programs for AI servers, racks, networking systems, and related infrastructure across regional manufacturing partners. - Own integrated program plans spanning NPI, factory readiness, material availability, tooling, test development, qualification, production ramp, and shipment. - Coordinate Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, Supply Chain, Rack Integration, System Enablement, Logistics, Deployment, and Hardware Operations. - Drive manufacturing readiness reviews and establish clear entry, exit, and production-release criteria. - Partner with ODMs, JDMs, contract manufacturers, and suppliers to manage build plans, capacity, production schedules, and delivery commitments. - Track manufacturing metrics including yield, first-pass yield, cycle time, throughput, work in progress, defect rates, rework, quality escapes, and on-time delivery. - Identify material, capacity, process, quality, test, and engineering risks that could affect production or deployment. - Lead cross-functional resolution of manufacturing issues involving hardware, firmware, test systems, supplier processes, quality, or configuration. - Ensure corrective actions have clear owners, deadlines, validation plans, and evidence of effectiveness. - Manage engineering changes, configuration control, deviation processes, and the introduction of design updates into active production. - Coordinate the transition from NPI into sustaining manufacturing with complete documentation, stable processes, trained teams, and clear ownership. - Partner with deployment and Hardware Operations teams to ensure manufactured systems arrive complete, validated, traceable, and ready for installation. - Build dashboards and operating mechanisms that provide clear visibility into production status, constraints, quality, delivery risk, and recovery plans. - Prepare concise updates and decision materials for senior technical and operational stakeholders. - Develop repeatable manufacturing playbooks that support increasing volume, multiple hardware platforms, and a growing global supplier network. Qualifications - 8+ years of experience in technical program management, manufacturing operations, NPI, hardware operations, or a related field. - Experience leading complex hardware products from development through qualification, production ramp, and sustaining operations. - Experience working directly with ODMs, JDMs, contract manufacturers, component suppliers, or factory operations teams. - Technical familiarity with servers, storage, networking equipment, rack-level systems, electronics, or other complex hardware products. - Strong understanding of manufacturing readiness, production planning, capacity management, quality gates, test processes, and change control. - Experience managing cross-functional programs involving engineering, quality, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and operations. - Ability to use production data to identify constraints, prioritize risks, and drive measurable improvements. - Experience leading high-severity manufacturing or quality escalations through containment, root cause, corrective action, and verified resolution. - Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical and operational risks to executives. - A track record of creating structure in ambiguous environments and driving commitments without relying on formal authority. - A bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or a related technical discipline. Preferred Skills - Experience manufacturing AI infrastructure, GPU servers, high-performance computing platforms, data center equipment, or rack-scale systems. - Experience supporting manufacturing partners and suppliers across Singapore, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, or the broader APAC region. - Familiarity with manufacturing quality methods such as FMEA, control plans, RCCA, 8D, statistical process control, and process capability analysis. - Experience with factory test development, hardware validation, system qualification, or production telemetry. - Familiarity with ERP, MES, product lifecycle management, supplier-qual…