Lead Technical Program Manager – Sales & Operations Planning: Capacity & Ops Strategy

About The Role

The Lead Technical Program Manager, S&OP: Capacity & Ops Strategy serves as the technical navigator and quantitative engine within the Global Operations Readiness team. Reporting into the Manager of Global Operations Readiness within the Manufacturing Business Office, this role is responsible for designing, deploying, and orchestrating the multi-horizon Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) framework that converts complex commercial demand signals into clear operational options.

This role requires a unique combination of deep manufacturing expertise, advanced analytical/modeling capability, and cross-functional leadership. You will lead the S&OP sub-function in synthesizing multi-channel demand streams (Customer Operations, ZT Sales, and Sanmina partner pipelines) into dynamic capacity models—evaluating global footprint, floor space, test load, power, and tooling constraints.

Additionally, you will identify strategic opportunities to invest in new manufacturing methods, machines, and equipment, ensuring factory capabilities remain ahead of rapid technological shifts in high-density AI compute and liquid cooling infrastructure.

As a technical leader, you will act as a thought partner and subject matter expert, instilling analytical rigor and delivery discipline within the team while coaching junior engineers and technical program managers to cultivate engineering excellence across the organization.

What You Will Do

• Ingest projects and requests from end-to-end, defining business needs, developing strategies, and socializing S&OP insights to executive leadership and plant operations.
• Drive the multi-stream demand ingestion process, reconciling unconstrained and constrained forecasts across Customer Operations, ZT sales, and Sanmina into a single unified demand baseline.
• Build and maintain dynamic 3-to-24-month capacity and scenario models, evaluating line rates, floor space utilization, test position availability, and high-density power/cooling infrastructure limits.
• Conduct rigorous "What-If" trade-off and ROI analyses, translating operational variables (racks/day, shift structures, line bottlenecks) directly into financial P&L impact (CapEx requirements, overtime costs, gross margin risk).
• Lead the monthly S&OP capacity review cadence, driving cross-functional alignment and accountability across Sales, Customer Ops, Engineering, NPI, Finance, and Sanmina teams.
• Identify strategic capability and technology shift opportunities, evaluating emerging hardware requirements (e.g., advanced liquid cooling loops, high-density power testing) and translating them into future-proofing requirements for manufacturing Methods and Machines.
• Build data-driven CapEx business cases for facility expansion, automation, line retrofits, and specialized tooling to prevent capacity bottlenecks before production ramps begin.
• Own efforts in continuously improving the effectiveness and scope of S&OP models, capacity tools, and data structures deployed for short- and long-term business planning.
• Coach and nurture junior team members to maximize their potential, set direction in the execution of complex analytical projects, and facilitate a culture of continuous learning and growth.
• Operate with a sense of urgency to ensure customer needs are met in fast-moving, high-pressure environments.

What You Will Bring

The right person for this role is an agent of change and has exceptional analytical capabilities, thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves problem-solving, is a good communicator, and is passionate about enabling the future of cloud computing.

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, supply chain management, or related field. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in an engineering, S&OP, capacity planning, or technical program management role (or 6+ years with a Master's degree).
• Demonstrated experience in high-reliability, high-tech hardware, server assembly, electronics manufacturing services (EMS), or hyperscale cloud infrastructure environments.
• Advanced skills in multi-variable capacity modeling, scenario planning, and data analysis using tools such as Python, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or advanced Excel.
• Ability to convert complex operational topics and data-driven models into clear P&L insights, CapEx ROI proposals, and executive-level overviews.
• Proven ability to influence and align distributed cross-functional teams (Sales, Finance, Engineering, Plant Ops, and Contract Manufacturing partners) without formal line authority.
• Deep understanding of factory dynamics, line throughput, test load bottlenecking, power distribution, and liquid cooling infrastructure.
• Independent initiative to lead end-to-end projects with a strong sense of urgency in fast-moving, high-pressure environments.
• Fluency with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).

ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company,  assesses market data to ensure a competitive compensation package is created for all our employees. The typical base salary for this position is expected to be between $116,250 and $155,000 annually. If hired, the final base salary will be determined on an individual basis taking into consideration experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications.

Base salary is just one component of ZT Systems total rewards philosophy. We take pride in offering a wide range of benefits and perks that appeal to the variety of needs across our diverse employee base. Other rewards may include bonus, paid time off, 401(k) retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, wellbeing resources, and more.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so 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 anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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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 around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities—to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow.

Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.

What We Offer
At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.

Compensation & Financial Security

-Competitive base salary

-Performance-based annual bonus eligibility

-401(k) retirement savings plan

-Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs

Health & Wellness

-Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers

-Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs-

-Company-paid life and disability insurance

Time Away & Work-Life Balance

-Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays

-Parental leave and family care support programs

Growth & Purpose

-Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities

-Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location. Learn more about our benefits here.

ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.