Deployment Program Manager

Description

The company builds robotic systems for manufacturing, aimed at a large market hit by a shortage of skilled labor. The team works on hard problems that have not been solved before.

This is a highly visible role with exposure to every function in the company. You will lead deployment projects for the robotic systems, taking each one from signed MSA through cell design and build to in-service at the customer's facility.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end deployments, working with cross-functional teams to deliver robotic systems to customer sites on time.
• Write and run project plans covering scope, goals, deliverables, timelines and resource allocation in a matrixed organization.
• Understand customer needs and expectations, manage risk, and make sure scope and capabilities are met so the customer is satisfied.
• Align internal stakeholders throughout the deployment.
• Manage risks, issues, decisions and dependencies.
• Spot likely roadblocks early and act on them to keep milestones on schedule.
• Keep internal project tools and documentation current, serving as the single source of truth.
• Work with the deployment team and engineering to solve complex technical problems.
• Run regular status meetings and send timely updates so stakeholders stay informed and expectations stay clear.
• Work with engineering leadership on NPI projects so they fit smoothly into the deployment.
• Run FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) events without defects.
• Lead post-deployment work and hand cell ownership over to Mission Control.
• Find process breakdowns and propose fixes.
• Make sure the robotic system is successfully deployed at the customer site.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business operations, project management or a related field. Advanced degrees are a plus.
• 4+ years of proven experience as a project or operations manager or in a similar role, ideally in robotics, automation or manufacturing.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a proactive approach to project risks and issues.
• Experience with program management tools such as Airtable, Monday.com or similar planning software, plus quality tools and methods and risk assessment and mitigation.
• Proven ability to work in a dotted-line reporting structure.
• Comfortable with high ambiguity and quick to adjust to shifting priorities.
• Solid knowledge of project management and agile methods, tools and practices.
• Experience deploying complex systems, ideally robotics or automation, in manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and industrial robotics is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with people at all levels across functions.
• May occasionally travel to customer sites (under 10% travel).

Conditions

This role may support work under U.S. Government contracts and must comply with applicable federal regulations, including FAR and DFARS where relevant.

The role may involve access to export-controlled information under ITAR and/or EAR. You must be able to comply with U.S. export control rules, which may include meeting the definition of a "U.S. Person" where required.