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Sesame is building a new kind of wearable computer focused on voice agents that feel natural and human. The company brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise in hardware and software.
As Technical Program Manager for Product Design, you will own the mechanical program plan for a complex sensing and computing system integrated into a compact, lightweight, comfortable wearable available in multiple styles and colors. You will shepherd hundreds of mechanical parts through design release, tooling, validation, and factory builds, working cross-functionally with Product Design, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Operations teams, contract manufacturers, and suppliers.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own the Product Design program schedule from concept through EVT, DVT, and PVT phases, including part release, tooling kickoff, first-shots, validation, and phase exit criteria
- Run the PD release and change-control process, ensuring every part has a release date, owner, and status in the PLM tool
- Program-manage styles, colors, and materials, including cosmetic material qualification, color development, and SKU rollout planning
- Coordinate design validation and reliability testing for mechanical parts; own closure of design-review action items
- Manage tooling, materials, cosmetic-part, and packaging suppliers: quotes, POs, sample requests, tooling timelines, and delivery schedules
- Plan mechanical materials and build matrices for prototype builds; lead mechanical build readiness across factory sites
- Run failure analysis triage for mechanical and cosmetic issues, ensuring every issue has an owner, due date, and closure path
- Maintain the Product Design section of the program's master issues list and weekly status, aligned with area leads
- Travel to contract manufacturer and supplier sites for builds, tooling reviews, and validation as needed
You will be comfortable telling designers and executives what a change will cost in weeks and dollars, then building the plan to execute it. In this fast-paced startup, you must be collaborative, decisive, and able to achieve results with limited supervision.
REQUIREMENTS:
- BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent practical experience
- 5+ years of experience in hardware program management or mechanical/product design engineering of consumer electronics, with at least 2 years managing programs
- Hands-on experience releasing mechanical parts and taking them through tooling and prototype builds (EVT/DVT/PVT or equivalent)
- Working knowledge of high-volume manufacturing processes (injection molding, machining, stamping, cosmetic finishing) and tolerance, DFM, and validation practices
- Direct experience managing tooling, materials, or fabrication suppliers, including quotes, POs, samples, and schedules
- Experience running change control and part release in a PLM tool
- Strong written communication; able to run a program with clear plans, decision logs, and status updates
- Ability to travel internationally, up to 25%
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with wearables or other products with heavy industrial design and cosmetic constraints
- Experience with premium cosmetic materials and finishes and their supply chains
- Experience managing many SKUs, colors, or configurations through a single program
- Experience with packaging or accessories programs
- Experience working with contract manufacturers
- Experience with Linear, Arena, or similar issue and PLM tools
- Startup experience or ownership of new product programs at a large company
