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Jeff Davies

@jeffdavies

Technical Program Manager with 15+ years leading hardware NPI, DFM/DFA, validation, and high-impact cross-functional delivery.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead hardware programs end-to-end—NPI, DFM/DFA, tooling qualification, and validation—while partnering with customers and global suppliers. I thrive in organizations that value structured governance, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable cycle-time improvements.

I’m a results-driven Technical Program Manager with 15+ years leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex hardware programs from concept through high-volume manufacturing. I bring end-to-end accountability as a single point of contact, translating requirements into executable plans that protect cost, schedule, and quality.

I manage portfolios of NPI projects while building strong customer relationships and supplier networks to keep programs aligned through every phase. Using structured phase-gate execution, work breakdown structures, project charters, and disciplined change control, I’ve reduced product development cycle time by 30% and cut time-to-market by 25% across NPI programs.

My technical depth is grounded in DFM/DFA, tooling qualification, and validation strategy (IQ/OQ/PQ) for EVT/DVT/PVT and regulated environments. I author validation strategies and completion reports, lead qualification through deployment, and apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to standardize processes, reduce waste, and improve reliability.

I also strengthen engineering execution through mentorship and practical design leadership, including tolerance stack analysis (RSS), GD&T documentation, FEA, and structured DOEs to mitigate mechanical risk prior to production freeze. From engineering change orders (ECO) to ISO-aligned documentation and regulatory compliance (UL, FDA), I drive continuous improvement that cuts field defects by over 75%.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Principal Mechanical Development

Current

Davies Design

Apr 2018 - Present (8 years 2 months)

Provided single-point-of-contact support for customer programs, leading design reviews, account planning, and quote development for engineering services and tooling. Delivered customer-facing DFM support to optimize molded component and assembly designs for production and quality.

Customer Relationship Management DFM Change Control ISO FDA UL Support Engineering Documentation Procurement Support

Director, Product Development

Fellow Industries Inc.

Dec 2024 - Nov 2025 (11 months)

Led multi-program hardware development as a customer-facing single point of contact, driving requirements translation and satisfaction across the program lifecycle. Built WBS and Gantt-based governance, reducing product development cycle time by 30% and cutting time-to-market by 25% for NPI portfolios.

Program Management Jira Change Control Lean Manufacturing ISO Compliance

Director, Engineering

Blendjet Inc.

Jun 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 6 months)

Owned EVT/DVT/PVT validation builds and manufacturing ramps, delivering 50% faster time-to-market on next-generation consumer hardware. Directed global tooling and supplier partners across 100+ injection-molded and sheet-metal tools to improve yield and margin performance.

Validation EVT DVT PVT Supplier Management Process Improvement Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma Budget Planning

Principal R&D Engineer

CamelBak Products, LLC

Jul 2005 - Jun 2015 (9 years 11 months)

Directed mechanical product development, designing and releasing 100+ injection-molded, elastomeric, ceramic, and sheet-metal components optimized for cost, manufacturability, and durability. Reduced field defects by over 75% through root-cause failure analysis and improved product reliability by 40% via structured validation planning.

Mechanical Design GD&T Root Cause Analysis

Project Manager / Mechanical Engineer

Front Row Inc.

Nov 2002 - Jul 2005 (2 years 8 months)

Supported early-stage NPI execution by coordinating cross-functional engineering, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing deliverables across concurrent hardware programs. Maintained project documentation and planning artifacts to support program governance and engineering-to-operations handoffs.

Project Management NPI Programs Cross functional Coordination ISO procedures Documentation Control Supplier Coordination