Product Lifecycle Project Manager

Job description

Meet the Team The Product Operations team plays a critical role in delivering Cisco’s next-generation hardware products on a scale. Working at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing, the team ensures seamless product lifecycle execution—from new product introduction to high-volume production and customer delivery. With a strong focus on reliability, efficiency, and operational excellence, the team drives impact across global operations and enables successful product outcomes.

Your Impact The Cisco Product Operations team is seeking a seasoned Product Lifecycle Program Manager (PLPM) to provide strategic leadership over global cost management and the end-to-end product lifecycle from inception to End-of-Life (EOL). This is a high-visibility, senior-level role that requires the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders—including Manufacturing, Engineering, Marketing, and Executive Leadership—to align on strategy and execution for a portfolio of complex product solutions.

You will be responsible for defining and implementing the frameworks that ensure operational efficiency and market competitiveness across our global manufacturing footprint.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Cost Management & Lifecycle Oversight: Serve as the primary architect for end-to-end product lifecycle strategy, driving rigorous cost management protocols from launch through EOL to ensure sustained profitability.

Engineering Change Governance

Provide authoritative oversight for Engineering Change Management, ensuring seamless technical transitions and minimal operational disruption.

Product Quality & Financial Stewardship

Maintain stringent control over product quality benchmarks and cost structures, ensuring alignment with organizational financial targets.

Complex Problem Resolution

Lead the mitigation of critical sustaining issues, including line-stop resolutions, CAP account management, AVL optimization, and continuous manufacturing process improvement.

EOL Strategy & Orchestration

Direct the development and execution of holistic EOL strategies, partnering with integrated product teams to ensure smooth sunsetting of legacy solutions.

Enterprise Risk Management

Oversee proactive risk assessment, including multi-source technology evaluation, component-level analysis, cost variance mitigation, and comprehensive supply chain reviews throughout the lifecycle.

Field Performance & Margin Optimization

Lead strategic action planning for product field performance and spearhead initiatives to drive continuous improvement in gross margins.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related technical field. 5-10 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain management within the high-tech sector. Proven track record in complex Program Management and executive-level stakeholder management. Advanced knowledge of supply chain dynamics, specifically within high-tech environments, product costing, and sophisticated margin analysis. Comprehensive knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and sustaining product support

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Engineering or Supply Chain Management and/or MBA. Knowledge of New Product Introduction (NPI) processes. Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification. Experience using Agile methodologies and advanced MSFT tools. Experience in the high-tech electronics industry and large-scale electronics manufacturing. Great executive communication, negotiation, and presentation skills. Why Cisco? At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond.

We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless.

We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.