Senior R&D Project Manager

The Senior Engineering Project Manager will be a part of a highly experienced, growing team and manage the definition, development, and delivery of custom integrated test systems for some of NI's largest customers. They are instrumental in helping the team evolve and expand by creating and refining tools and processes and influencing specialization areas, therefore, experience communicating with various stakeholders and clients from sole contributor to Executive across multiple disciplines - Engineering, Sales, Clients will be valued. Their ability to quickly build credibility and trust for effective collaboration towards mutual outcomes will drive success.

Performance Objectives

• Create project plans that drive successful, measurable project execution:Ensure technical feasibility, financial viability, risk assessment and schedule are well understood by stakeholders. Identify and document customer requirements. Work with project teams to define technical solutions. Create a work breakdown structure to plans budget and routinely reassess as needed. Actively manage risks to identify changes and mitigation strategies. Clearly communicate all schedule constraints and project milestones.

• Act as the single point of contact for the project: Develop project communication plans and ensure execution to the plan, resulting in professional and consistent communication with the customer and other stakeholders. Effectively negotiate scope and schedule changes. Accurately identify and communicate internal and external customers' needs. Organize and facilitate project reviews that ensure key stakeholders are presented with accurate and concise information to make decisions.

• Influence others to ensure successful delivery: Frequently collaborate with other departments such as manufacturing, R&D, operations, quality and sales. Lead with influence to ensure the success of your projects and set the stage for future success of your next project working with these stakeholders. Develop a sense of urgency in stakeholders while also building a solid foundation for future collaboration.

• Lead project analysis on resource, schedule & budget planning and risk assessment: Monitor and report out to stakeholders on project costs, status, quality; escalate issues when necessary. Evaluate changes that substantially impact the scope, budget, or schedule of projects and drive decisions on these changes.

• Collaborate with resource managers to ensure appropriate staffing on projects: Influence and make decisions about scope, schedule, and resources.

• Drive process and tool improvement efforts: Drive continuous improvement through successful lessons learned activities that result in appropriate process or tool changes. Lead initiatives to help the organization operate more efficiently and effective. Be passionate about continuous improvement.

• Manage and give direction to other project managers and project coordinators: Ensure adherence to development processes and best practices. Review work quality and provide mentorship to other project managers/coordinators. Act as a subject matter expert in one or more key areas, such as customer, application or tool/process expertise.

Experience

The following skills and experience are required:

• A PMP or PMI-ACP certification, or be able to attain one within 6 months of hire.

• A minimum of at least 5 years' experience leading and directing customer-facing engineering projects.

• Experience in managing customer-facing solution delivery with strong communication skills, presentation skills and negotiation skills

• A Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline or equivalent work experience.

• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time.

• Demonstrated technical and executive communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and work effectively with teams

• US Person (US Citizen or Green Card ) ONLY, ability to work on ITAR projects and qualify for DoD Clearances

In addition, desired skills and experience may include:

• MBA or Master's Degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or related discipline

• Aerospace industry test experience is highly desirable.

• Experience managing defense contracts is highly desirable.

• Previous exposure to National Instruments hardware and software, first-hand experience using them is preferred.

• Strong understanding of business concepts such as pricing, costs, margins, terms and conditions preferred

For this position in Massachusetts, we offer a total target compensation range of $99,200.00 - $161,200.00, plus competitive benefits as well as incentive compensation and/or equity for certain roles. Please note that the total target compensation range is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Company benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), flexible spending accounts, and paid leave.