Altera (altera.com)
Senior Director, Program Enablement & Operations (Hardware Engineering)
Altera is undergoing a high-velocity transformation to re-establish leadership in the FPGA market. At the center of this transformation is execution excellence.
We are seeking a Senior Director of Program Enablement & Operations to serve as the operational nerve center of Hardware Engineering, owning end-to-end program execution across all silicon programs, from concept through production.
This leader will drive execution rigor, operational scale, and cross-functional alignment across the largest and one of the most critical organizations in Altera, spanning architecture, silicon / IP development, validation, boards, and packaging.
This is a high-impact, high-visibility leadership role working directly with executive staff, responsible for ensuring that ambitious product and roadmap commitments translate into predictable, high-quality delivery.
What You Will Do
1. Own End-to-End Program Execution
Lead execution across all major silicon programs—from planning, architecture alignment, and design through bring-up, validation, and production.
Ensure tight integration across pre-silicon and post-silicon phases, including boards and package development.
Drive milestone definition, exit criteria, and execution discipline across all programs.
2. Lead Program Management Organization
Manage and develop a team of ~6 senior program leaders responsible for key product lines and initiatives.
Establish a high-performance culture of accountability, transparency, and delivery excellence.
Elevate program management from tracking to decision-driving and risk-owning leadership.
3. Drive Operational Excellence at Scale
Build and run the operating system of Hardware Engineering:
Program governance frameworks
Execution dashboards and KPIs
Resource and dependency management
Risk identification and mitigation systems
Identify and implement efficiency opportunities across engineering, tooling, and workflows.
4. Executive Alignment & Decision Support
Partner closely with senior executives across engineering, product, and business units.
Lead executive program reviews, providing clear visibility into status, risks, and trade-offs.
Enable fast, high-quality decision-making by framing issues with clarity and data.
5. External Ecosystem Coordination
Work with external partners including:
Foundries and manufacturing partners
IP vendors and ecosystem partners
Ensure alignment on schedule, deliverables, and quality expectations across the extended supply chain.
6. Stakeholder Communication & Rhythm
Establish a clear and consistent communication cadence across all levels of the organization.
Ensure no surprises execution culture—issues are surfaced early, with actionable plans.
Act as the connective tissue between engineering, product, operations, and leadership.
The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
$231.5K - $341.0K USD
We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.
What We’re Looking For
Leadership & Execution
Proven track record of leading large-scale silicon programs to successful production.
Experience managing senior program managers or technical leaders.
Demonstrated ability to operate in high-ambiguity, high-speed environments.
Technical Depth
Strong understanding of end-to-end silicon lifecycle:
Architecture → Design → Verification → Tapeout → Bring-up → Production
Familiarity with FPGA development cycles and ecosystems is highly desirable.
Ability to engage deeply with engineering teams and challenge assumptions constructively.
Operational Excellence
Experience building or scaling program management and operational frameworks.
Strong data-driven mindset with ability to define and track meaningful execution metrics.
Ability to identify systemic inefficiencies and drive measurable improvements.
Executive Presence
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
Experience working directly with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to distill complex technical and programmatic issues into clear, actionable insights.
Mindset
High ownership and accountability
Structured thinker with strong attention to detail
Bias for action with disciplined execution
Collaborative, transparent, and direct leadership style
Why This Role Matters
This is not a traditional program management role.
This role defines how execution happens at Altera.
You will shape the systems, rhythms, and culture that determine whether we meet our commitments, and ultimately whether we win in the market.
If you thrive in environments where speed, complexity, and impact intersect, this role puts you at the center of it.
Bonus Points
Experience in FPGA, ASIC, or high-performance compute silicon programs
Background in both engineering and program/operations leadership roles
Experience working through organizational transformations or scale-ups
Top Skills
Altera (altera.com) San Jose, California, USA Office
101 Innovation Dr, San Jose, California, United States, 95134
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