Senior Program Technical Lead

Shape the Future of Hearing as a Sr. Program Tech Lead! Lead the design of cutting-edge hearing aids, accessories, and integrated software solutions. Drive innovation through risk analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Gain insights into patient and clinician needs to create best-in-class systems that transform lives. Join us and redefine excellence in hearing technology!

Starkey is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of advanced hearing technologies. We are in the business of connecting people and changing lives. Our teams come to work each day focused on ensuring people everywhere have the products and services they need to hear better and live better.

Founded in 1967 by Bill Austin, Starkey is known for our cutting-edge hearing health innovations, industry-leading research and development, and not being afraid to push the edge of what's possible.

We are headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have over 5,000 employees in 29 facilities across the globe, and do business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

Watch this video to see more of what sets Starkey apart: https://youtu.be/9cUYwTlCepg?si=wkovx8_R_iINfrc6

JOB SUMMARY DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB

The Senior Program Technical Lead is a senior engineering role focused on guiding the technical development of new hearing system programs. This position is responsible for ensuring that all technical aspects-such as functionality, performance, and integration-meet the highest standards for Starkey products, including hearing aids, accessories, manufacturing and fitting software, mobile applications, programmers, and related components. Key responsibilities include leading cross-functional engineering teams to design best-in-class hearing aid systems, solving complex technical challenges, and supporting other design groups to achieve successful product launches. The Senior Program Technical Lead plays a critical role in ensuring that products are ready for production and comply with Starkey's Quality Management System (QMS). Unlike the Program Manager, who oversees schedules and task management, or the Product Manager, who focuses on product marketing, the Senior Program Technical Lead is dedicated to delivering the technical content of the program. This role requires strong communication skills, technical expertise, creativity, and the ability to collaborate across teams and departments. Building relationships with Product Management, Marketing, and Sales is essential to understand patient and clinician needs and translate them into product solutions.

• The Senior Program Tech Lead is a member of the program core team. This team is responsible for defining, planning, and executing the program.
• The Senior Program Tech Lead is responsible for defining the scope of the program during the commitment and design phases. When a scope change comes in, the Senior Program Tech Lead is responsible for gaining alignment on whether or not the program can absorb the change.
• During the design phase there are several integration points (IPs). The Senior Program Tech Lead is responsible for maintaining the IP plan throughout the program. The IP releases take coordination between the Firmware, Mobile, Software, and Manufacturing organizations to complete. The Senior Program Tech Lead makes sure these groups work together for the release to happen in a timely manner.
• The Senior Program Tech Lead is responsible for burning down critical issues starting in the design phase and continuing through release and beyond. This involves understanding the issues, finding the correct resources to find root cause, and solving the issues. The Senior Program Tech Lead is also primarily responsible for communicating the issues and their status to leadership.
• The Senior Program Tech Lead needs to evaluate design decisions to determine if there are implications for other functions. They work with staff from all functions to make sure decisions are agreed upon.
• During verification and validation, the Senior Program Tech Lead ensures that performance is being evaluated. When performance is less than expected, the Senior Program Tech Lead works with appropriate functional staff to resolve performance issues.
• The Senior Program Tech Lead also performs these tasks:
  
  
  
  • Facilitate technical meetings for the program/project
  • Drive cross-functional technical risk assessments for the program/project
  • Coordinate and drive cross-functional test planning, gap analysis, execution, and reporting
  • Own and drive the program/project technical issue visibility and resolution
  • Support the Program/Project Manager by providing impact analysis of the program/project schedules on any technical work, deliverables, and dependencies
  
  
  
  

The Senior Program Tech Lead achieves results by ensuring the following:

• Timely completion of accurate and complete system requirements with minimal defects and gaps
• Quality completion of high-level system design, architecture, interface, risk analysis, traceability, and tradeoff documentation
• Timely and complete system documentation of designs and integration plans
• Timely and complete analysis, resolution, and documentation of system-level technical issues
• Interdepartmental feedback regarding leadership, decision making, communication, teamwork, job knowledge, quality of work, technical skills, preparation for meetings, follow-up on action items, and process improvements

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Systems Engineering or related field
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in a product and/or technology development environment

or

• Master of Science (MS) degree in lieu of a BS degree, with a minimum of 5 years of industry experience in a product and/or technology development environment

• Advanced knowledge of product development, including the following areas: system design and architecture, requirements, risk management, verification and validation, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing processes, packaging, labeling, use cases, configuration management, and issue tracking
• Intermediate working knowledge of hearing aid architecture and design, hearing aid audiological features, programming software, manufacturing software, and hearing aid mobile applications
• General to intermediate working knowledge of one or more of the following:
  
  
  
  • analog, digital, and mixed signal circuits
  • multi-component electrical devices, PC interfaces, communication protocols, digital design, digital signal processing (DSPs), and wired and wireless communication
  • signal processing concepts, including: block diagrams, filters, Fourier analysis, audio, and acoustics
  • software development process, source code control, version control, and high- and low-level programming languages
  
  
  
  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability in problem solving and troubleshooting
• Strong attention to detail
• Proficiency in using typical bench-top equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, signal generators, audio analyzers, spectrum analyzers, voltmeters, etc.)
• Must be self-motivated and able to work in a fast-paced team environment
• Ability to work with minimal guidance to make decisions and report progress
• Demonstrated leadership role in projects, including the ability to provide guidance and direction on the project to less experienced technical personnel
• Experience with systems engineering processes, such as requirements management, configuration management, issue tracking tools, etc.
• Proven ability to perform complex engineering analysis and calculations
• Ability to effectively and efficiently manage time, establish priorities, and direct the work of more junior engineers

Salary and Other Compensation:

The target pay rate for this position is between $93,940 - $128,100 annually. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include: geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is eligible for a bonus based upon performance results. There is no guarantee of payout.

Benefits: The following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, employee assistance plan, hearing aid benefits, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, paid floating holidays, paid volunteer service day, paid paternity and maternity leave and tuition reimbursement.

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