The Role
The Head of NPI Engineering is responsible for leading the end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) process within a high‑mix, electronic manufacturing environment. This role ensures the seamless transition of products from design through to full‑scale production, driving manufacturability, quality, cost efficiency, and on‑time delivery. You will act as the key interface between customers, design engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead, develop, and mentor the NPI Engineering team
- Define and implement NPI strategy aligned with businessobjectivesand customer requirements
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and engineering excellence
New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Own the full NPI lifecycle from concept review to production release
- Ensure robust Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Test (DFT), and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles are applied
- Lead project planning, risk management, and resource allocation for all NPI activities
- Act as the primary escalation point for NPI‑related issues
Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the technical lead for customer engagements during the NPI phase
- Collaborate with customers on designoptimisation, cost reduction, and manufacturability improvements
- Work cross‑functionally with Quality, Supply Chain, Production, and AccountManagement teams
Process & Production Readiness
- Ensure manufacturing processes, tooling, and test solutions are fully validated prior to production
- Oversee creation and approval of work instructions, process documentation, and control plans
- Drive First Article Inspection (FAI) and production readiness reviews
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all NPI activities meet regulatory, customer, and industry standards (e.g., IPC standards)
- Support root cause analysis and corrective actions during early production phases
- Partner with Quality teams to ensure smooth handover to steady‑state production
Continuous Improvement
- AnalyseNPI performance metrics (e.g., time to market, yield, cost variance)
- Implement Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise processes
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On‑time NPI delivery
- First pass yield / early production yield
- Time to production release
- NPI cost vs. target
- Customer satisfaction during NPI phase
About you
- Proven leadership experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering, or operations within the electronic manufacturing (EMS) sector
- Strong knowledge of PCB assembly, box build, and electronic systems integration
- Deep understanding of DFM, DFT, and DFA principles
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement tools
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience working directly with customers in a technical or engineering capacity
