Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM)

About Tacit

We are an early-stage, deep tech startup based in San Francisco, developing innovative hardware that rethinks human-computer interaction. We are backed by General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, and Greylock Partners, with a founding team from Stanford, BrainGate, Oculus, and Tesla. While we can't reveal too much just yet, our team is tackling cutting-edge engineering challenges to bring revolutionary products to life.
About the role

Our core sensing technology has been validated, and we are now transitioning from research prototypes to a consumer-ready product.

We are hiring a Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM) to be the backbone of hardware execution across electrical, mechanical, RF, firmware, manufacturing, and operations. This person will own the integrated program plan end-to-end, keep teams aligned on milestones and tradeoffs, and ensure we ship hardware that is reliable, testable, and manufacturable.
What you'll do

• Own the end-to-end hardware program plan from concept through prototype builds, EVT/DVT/PVT, production ramp, and launch.
• Build and maintain the integrated master schedule across hardware, firmware, manufacturing test, supply chain, and ops.
• Drive crisp execution rhythms: weekly cross-functional syncs, milestone reviews, and decision logs.
• Manage cross-team dependencies, identify critical paths, and ensure work is appropriately sequenced to de-risk the program.
• Run program management fundamentals:
  
  • Risk register, issue tracking, mitigations, and escalation paths.
  • Build readiness reviews and phase-gate checklists.
  • Change control for requirements, scope, and schedule.
• Partner with engineering leads to translate product intent into clear requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria .
• Coordinate contract manufacturers, ODMs, and key suppliers through design, build, test, and yield improvement.
• Communicate status to leadership with clarity: progress, tradeoffs, risks, and resourcing needs.
• Raise the bar on documentation quality so knowledge is shared and decisions are durable.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience leading cross-functional hardware programs , ideally for consumer electronics.
• Demonstrated experience owning and reporting a master schedule for hardware builds, prototyping, validation, and manufacturing readiness.
• Strong systems intuition across multiple domains (EE, ME, firmware, DFM/DFA, manufacturing/test, validation and reliability), with the ability to represent disciplines outside of your own.
• Experience working with external partners (CM/ODM/suppliers), including coordinating design, build, and test activities across time zones.
• Excellent written and verbal communication. You are known for clarity, concision, and follow-through.
• High ownership and comfort operating in ambiguity. You can create structure without becoming bureaucratic.

Strong candidates may have

• Experience building or scaling a phase-gate hardware development process.
• Experience with wearables, audio products, RF-constrained systems, or power-constrained products .
• Experience standing up manufacturing test and reliability processes in partnership with test/NPI teams.
• Familiarity with tools like Jira/Linear/Asana, Confluence/Notion, and schedule management tooling.

Compensation Range

$160,000 - $180,000 plus significant equity.
Benefits

• Competitive equity package
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company size: 20-30 people
• Unlimited PTO
• Visa sponsorship
• 3% 401k matching