Technical Program Manager (Playground)

Nex is helping families reconnect with the joy of movement through fun, social, and interactive content that’s accessible to all ages. Its award-winning Nex Playground console, launched in December 2023, uses cutting-edge AI, mobile and vision technologies to merge digital and physical worlds, immersing players in the experience using their natural body movement. Nex Playground games range from original sports and fitness titles, to educational games and titles in collaboration with Hasbro and Sesame Workshop.

Since its founding, Nex has been recognised as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, TIME’s Best Inventions, Parents’ Best Entertainment System for Families, and has been awarded the prestigious Apple Design Award.  Nex Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, highlighting the company’s firm stance on privacy and safety for kids and families.  To learn more, visit https://www.nex.inc or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook.

Location: Hong Kong or Remote
Type: Full Time
Reports to: VP of Platform

The Role

As Nex’s Technical Program Manager, you will own the end-to-end delivery of Playground, our family-focused active entertainment console. Playground integrates camera technology, computer graphics, and AI into an embedded system with a unique, simple, and award-winning industrial design. You will oversee manufacturing and sustaining engineering for the hardware, as well as the continuous development and release of its firmware and cloud services.

In this role, you will collaborate with multiple internal and external teams, including product owners, designers, engineers, OEMs, and software development partners. Your responsibilities will include project planning, estimating work efforts, defining milestones, tracking progress, resolving dependencies, evaluating risks, facilitating technical decisions, and ensuring quality, quantities, and deadlines are met. Additionally, you will orchestrate the software release process and work closely with customer support, engineering, and quality teams to address consumer issues and drive improvements. You will report to the VP of Platform.

You are highly familiar with embedded systems and have extensive experience managing hardware manufacturing and software development. You understand technical implementation at the system/architecture level and can propose technical alternatives when necessary. You possess broad domain knowledge and understand the possibilities and limitations of different technologies. You excel at identifying when teams are not drawing the right conclusions or making the best decisions, and you know how to guide them effectively.

You are adept at working with vendors, understanding their perspectives, speaking their language, and ensuring their success. You comprehend intentions, goals, and motivations deeply. You believe in continuous improvement, enjoy learning and implementing new processes, and thrive in creating structure and order. You are driven to develop scalable, long-term solutions to problems, avoiding repetitive challenges. Finally, you are motivated by challenges and excited to create something new and meaningful for the world.

What You Will Bring To The Table

• Extensive experience in building embedded systems.
• In-depth knowledge of software and hardware development.
• Processes that adapt and evolve dynamically to meet organizational needs.
• The ability to connect means to ends effectively.
• The intelligence and communication skills to unify teams and bring them into alignment.

Must Have

• 3+ years of experience in program management, leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience in Android/AOSP embedded systems or mobile devices, including firmware development.
• Experience with consumer electronics.
• Expertise in managing both hardware and software vendors.
• Familiarity with NPI, FMEA, reliability testing, certifications, and quality management.
• Familiarity with Agile software development methodologies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a related engineering field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin.

Should Have

• Excellent communication, organizational and leadership skills to drive cross-team collaboration.
• Ability to navigate complex environments and to work effectively with highly technical engineering teams.
• Competence with tools such as JIRA, spreadsheets, and other project management tools.
• Interest in consumer electronics, gaming, and family-focused products.
• A passion for customer success.

Nice To Have

• Experience working in consumer electronics companies or startups.
• Experience with cloud software development.
• Experience with Android software development.
• Expertise in building embedded camera hardware.
• Familiarity with video conferencing systems or gaming systems.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma, DFM, and DFT.
• Understanding of ME/EE, materials, certifications, and standards.

We Offer

• Competitive compensation package.
• Flexible working hours and vacation policy.
• Product-driven culture that treasures talents and individual growth.
• Front-row seat and hands-on experience with cutting edge technologies in the evolving gaming field

Nex is located in San Jose, California, USA and Hong Kong. Learn more about us at nex.inc/who-we-are.

We encourage applications even if you don’t meet more than 50% of the requirements — we believe that experience comes in many forms!