Sr. Principal Technical Program Manager, Test Engineering

About the Role

The Sr. Principal Technical Program Manager, Test Engineering is a senior technical and strategic leader responsible for defining and driving the long-term strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of manufacturing test engineering across complex, global product portfolios.

This role operates at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, quality, operations, customers, and technology partners to establish scalable test strategies, solve complex technical challenges, and drive transformational improvements across the product lifecycle. The Sr. Principal TPM serves as a trusted technical and strategic advisor to senior leadership and is expected to influence decisions across organizational boundaries without direct authority.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in manufacturing test engineering, strong technical judgment, and a proven ability to lead highly complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through production at scale.

What You’ll Do

Define and drive enterprise-level test engineering and manufacturing test strategy across multiple product lines and programs, aligning long-term technical direction with company objectives and customer requirements.

Establish multi-year roadmaps for test infrastructure, automation, quality systems, scalability, and emerging technologies , anticipating future business and product needs.

Serve as a senior technical authority and thought leader for manufacturing test, influencing architecture, engineering strategy, and operational decisions across the organization.

Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives spanning design engineering, quality, manufacturing, test, operations, supplier engineering, and external technology partners.

Drive organizational alignment around technical priorities, investment decisions, resource requirements, and execution strategies for large-scale test engineering initiatives.

Establish and lead strategic engagements with key customers, suppliers, and technology partners to develop joint technical roadmaps, resolve systemic challenges, and strengthen long-term partnerships.

Act as a senior executive-level liaison between internal organizations, customers, suppliers, and external partners, translating complex technical challenges into actionable strategies and business decisions.

Lead data-driven analysis of systemic manufacturing and test issues, leveraging metrics such as yield, Time-to-Failure, test coverage, reliability, throughput, and cost to identify root causes and drive sustainable improvements.

Lead end-to-end test engineering transformation initiatives across the product lifecycle, from early product introduction and development through high-volume production and sustaining engineering.

Drive measurable improvements in test yield, infrastructure reliability, test coverage, execution efficiency, manufacturing scalability, product quality, and cost of production .

Establish program governance, operating mechanisms, performance metrics, and accountability models across organizations to ensure successful execution of strategic initiatives.

Anticipate organizational, technical, and operational risks; develop mitigation strategies; remove systemic blockers; and ensure successful delivery of critical initiatives.

Guide senior engineering and program teams through complex technical trade-offs, risk management, prioritization, and decision-making.

Influence investment and resource allocation decisions by developing business cases, analyzing technical alternatives, and communicating expected organizational and financial impact.

Communicate complex technical strategies, program health, risks, and key decisions effectively to executive leadership and senior stakeholders.

Mentor and develop technical program managers and engineering leaders, raising organizational capability in program execution, technical strategy, and operational excellence.

Champion continuous improvement and establish scalable mechanisms that enable consistent, high-quality manufacturing test execution across products and sites.

What You’ll Bring

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

12+ years of progressive experience in engineering, technical program management, manufacturing, test engineering, or a related technical discipline, with demonstrated impact at a Principal or Sr. Principal level.

Proven track record of defining and executing organizational or multi-product engineering strategy across complex, large-scale programs.

Demonstrated ability to influence technical and business decisions across organizational boundaries and at senior leadership levels.

Strong record of delivering measurable business outcomes across cost, quality, yield, reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency .

Deep understanding of manufacturing test processes, test automation, test infrastructure, and hardware/software integration.

Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering initiatives from early concept and development through new product introduction and high-volume production.

Strong technical judgment and analytical problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to identify systemic issues and drive sustainable solutions.

Demonstrated ability to establish alignment, influence without direct authority, create accountability, and drive execution across highly matrixed organizations.

Exceptional communication and executive stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business decisions and recommendations.

Experience working directly with strategic customers, suppliers, technology partners, and senior internal stakeholders.

Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and the ability to balance technical excellence, cost, quality, schedule, and scalability.

Proficiency with program and project management tools such as Jira, Asana, or MS Project and documentation platforms such as Confluence or SharePoint.

Preferred Skills

Experience defining manufacturing test strategy for new product categories, advanced computing platforms, or emerging technologies .

Experience leading test engineering strategy within a high-volume, highly automated manufacturing environment .

Deep knowledge of hardware/software integration testing and system-level validation.

Experience with liquid-cooled systems, thermal technologies, or other advanced data center hardware.

Experience driving large-scale manufacturing or engineering transformation initiatives across multiple sites or global organizations.

Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT), or other operational excellence methodologies.

Experience working with global engineering organizations, customers, and manufacturing partners.

Demonstrated experience presenting technical strategy and business recommendations to executive leadership.

PMP, Lean Six Sigma certification, or advanced degree (e.g., Master’s or Ph.D.) in a relevant technical field.

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity at ZT Systems.

About ZT Systems

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you’ll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world-class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment that’s challenging, rewarding, and career-defining.

A culture built