Hardware Technical Program Manager

Efficient Computer is rethinking computing from the ground up to solve one of AI's biggest challenges: energy. Our Fabric architecture delivers a 10–100x improvement in energy efficiency for general-purpose computation, including AI, while supporting familiar programming languages and software frameworks—unlocking new possibilities for autonomous machines, intelligent infrastructure, wearables, and space systems. With our first processor, Electron E1, now shipping in volume and more than $97 million in Series B financing recently announced, we're accelerating customer deployments and scaling our architecture to data center performance. Join us to build the hardware and software that bring intelligence wherever it's needed and help shape the next generation of computing.

We are looking for a Hardware Technical Program Manager to own the program end-to-end — from architecture freeze through RTL, verification, physical implementation, tapeout, bring-up, and production release.

You will be the operational center of the program: building and defending the schedule, driving the critical path, surfacing risk early, and making the tradeoff conversations happen before they become slips. You'll work daily with architecture, RTL design, DV/emulation, DFT, physical design, package, firmware, and the foundry/IP vendor ecosystem. Join our team and help us shape the future of computing at the edge and beyond!

Key Responsibilities

Own the Program

• Own the silicon schedule from architecture freeze through tapeout, bring-up, and production with the schedule informed by customer requirements and internal functional leads.
• Drive the weekly execution cadence (program reviews, design reviews, tapeout readiness) and maintain a single source of truth for status, dependencies, and decisions.

Drive Cross-Functional Execution

• Coordinate handoffs across architecture, RTL, DV/emulation, DFT, physical design, IP, package, and software
• Manage the dependency chains hardware programs live and die on: IP delivery, PDK/library releases, EDA versions, and emulation capacity.
• Run the tapeout checklist and signoff matrix (timing, power, IR/EM, DRC/LVS, DFT coverage, ECO closure, GDS handoff), holding owners to closure criteria.
• Work with supply chain/logistics for: IP acquisition, silicon arrival, ATE/loadboard readiness, lab scheduling, bug triage, and ECO/respin decision support.

Manage Risk & Decisions

• Surface risk early with mitigation options and schedule impact quantified — late IP, coverage shortfalls, convergence misses, foundry slot changes.
• Facilitate PPA, schedule, and scope tradeoffs, and document what was decided, by whom, and why.

Coordinate Externally & Report Up

• Interface with foundry, OSAT, IP, and EDA partners on deliverables, technology file releases, mask slots, and escalations; support export control/ECCN compliance with legal and operations.
• Deliver crisp executive reporting — where the program stands, what's at risk, what decision is needed and by when — across distributed teams and time zones.
• Track resource allocation and NRE/mask/license/prototype budgets against program needs.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent; M.S. or MBA a plus.
• 7+ years in semiconductor/hardware engineering or program management, including at least 2 full SoC/ASIC programs taken from concept through tapeout and silicon bring-up.
• Working fluency in the chip design flow: RTL, functional verification and coverage closure, DFT, synthesis, PnR, STA, physical signoff (DRC/LVS/IR/EM), GDSII handoff, and post-silicon validation.
• Demonstrated ability to build and defend a bottoms-up schedule with critical path analysis and dependency mapping.
• Track record influencing without authority — earning the technical credibility to push senior engineers on commitments and dates.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to run a room of principal engineers and an exec review with equal effectiveness.
• Hands-on with program tooling: Jira, Confluence, MS Project/Smartsheet, and familiarity with the Synopsys/Cadence/Siemens EDA ecosystem.

Desired Qualifications & Experience Requirements

• Prior hands-on engineering experience in design, DV, or physical design before moving to program management.
• Experience on advanced or FinFET nodes (16/12/7nm or more advanced) and direct foundry engagement (TSMC preferred).
• Familiarity with AI/ML accelerators, dataflow or novel compute architectures..
• Experience managing emulation/FPGA prototyping programs and pre-silicon software enablement timelines.
• Exposure to package/board co-design programs (FC-BGA, WLCSP) and OSAT coordination.
• Experience with EVK/reference board programs and customer/FAE enablement schedules.
• Familiarity with quality and compliance frameworks relevant to the target market (automotive, industrial, or security certifications).

We offer a competitive base salary for this role, generally ranging from $200,000 to $260,000, plus a 10% annual bonus, meaningful equity, and comprehensive benefits. Final compensation will depend on experience, level, and location, with flexibility for the right candidate.

Why Join Efficient?

Build what's next. At Efficient, you'll tackle big challenges with room to take ownership and make an impact. We back you with competitive pay, equity, a 401(k) match, company-paid benefits, paid parental leave, and flexibility—plus opportunities to grow your skills and career as we scale.