Technical Program Manager

As a Technical Program Manager (TPM) at Sanhua’s West Coast office, the candidate will be responsible for supporting OEM and Tier 1 customers as their primary technical contact. This role involves the development of thermal management and HVAC components for EV, PHEV, and AV applications, including refrigerant valves (SOVs, EXVs, CVs), refrigerant heat exchangers (chillers, liquid-cooled condensers), electric coolant and oil pumps, and battery cold plates. The candidate will work closely with global R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and testing teams to deliver high-quality, well-engineered products. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the key technical interface for OEM and Tier 1 customers, supporting Sanhua’s business and product lines. 

• Meet regularly with customer engineering and product teams to resolve technical, packaging, production, supply chain, and quality issues. 

• Analyze product requirements and lead engineering activities, concept design, compliance matrix creation, and RFQ proposal reports. 

• Understanding of thermal management systems, including refrigerant loops, coolant loops, and oil loops. 

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, such as casting, forging, brazing, machining, and injection molding, to product development. 

• Coordinate the development of CAD models and 2D drawings, and direct simulation activities (CFD, FEA, and optimization studies) to support customer programs. 

• Support HVAC and thermal system design and development, including component integration, testing, simulation, and system engineering. 

• Track industry trends and work with the global R&D team to develop new products and improve existing ones. 

• Lead discussions with manufacturing, process engineering, service, packaging, and supply chain teams to support product development and VA/VE (Value Analysis/Value Engineering) activities. 

• Benchmark competitive thermal components and systems to quantify functional targets and develop engineering specifications. 

• Open-mindedness to new ideas and perspectives, embracing different opinions and changes while maintaining a willingness to learn from others. 

• Show strong ownership of projects, with self-motivation to take proactive action and effective communication skills to coordinate cross-functional teams. 

• Develop technical documentation for existing and new products, including design specifications, manufacturing guidelines, and product catalogs. 

• Represent Sanhua at industry conferences and symposiums, contributing to technical workshops, publications, and paper reviews. 

Key Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, specializing in heat transfer, thermodynamics, HVAC&R, and fluid mechanics. 

• 0-3 years of experience in thermal management for EV, PHEV, or AV applications, preferably within an OEM or Tier 1 supplier environment. 

• Hands-on experience with refrigerant and coolant heat exchangers, sensors, valves, and pumps. 

• Strong understanding of refrigerant-based, coolant-based, air-cooled systems, as well as injection-molded, brazed/welded/cast components and high-voltage products. 

• Working knowledge of automotive system design, packaging, and assembly requirements. 

• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to work with global, cross-functional teams. 

• Experience in plant operations and vehicle/program launches is a plus. 

• Willingness to travel as required. 

Summary 

This candidate has a strong technical background in automotive thermal management systems and expertise in technical program management, product development, engineering analysis, supply chain coordination, and industry research. Their ability to work cross-functionally with global teams and customers positions them as a key contributor to EV, PHEV, and AV thermal system innovations and optimizations.