Robotics Project Manager - Lexington, KY

Description

The parent company has 60 years of experience across industries and more than 100 sites worldwide. It provides engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing services to major brands.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of that parent. It builds autonomous robotic platforms for retailers, combining robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data analytics to improve efficiency, inventory accuracy, workplace safety, and the customer experience.

The team works like a startup inside a Fortune 500 manufacturing and technology group, with access to its resources and scale. It develops next-generation autonomous robotic products and takes complex products from concept to market.

This role leads medium to large robotics and product development projects from concept through deployment. You will drive execution by coordinating cross-functional teams, managing schedules and budgets, and reducing risk to deliver robotic solutions on time.

Responsibilities

• Lead robotics and product development projects from concept through implementation.
• Write project charters, business proposals, plans, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and implementation strategies.
• Set project goals, objectives, deliverables, and success measures.
• Work with engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, software, and leadership teams to deliver projects.
• Control scope, timelines, quality, cost, and risk across the full project lifecycle.
• Identify risks, plan mitigations, and escalate issues when needed.
• Forecast budgets, staffing, and resource needs.
• Own project performance: schedule, cost, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Set and track project KPIs, and hold cross-functional teams accountable for results.
• Build and maintain detailed roadmaps with clear milestones and deliverables.
• Give regular status updates and executive-level communication to stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Lead change management and assess its impact on cost, schedule, and scope.
• Coordinate collaboration across teams, business units, and organizational levels.
• Build, mentor, and motivate project teams toward business and customer goals.
• Lead continuous improvement in project execution, operations, and team effectiveness.
• Maintain strong internal and external customer relationships.
• Ensure compliance with company safety, security, and quality standards.

Requirements

• 6+ years of project management on medium to large projects in a high-tech product development setting.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and complex deliverables.
• Ability to work in a startup-style environment where processes may still be evolving.
• Proven record of managing several projects at the same time.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic problem-solving abilities.
• Experience building and managing project budgets, schedules, and resource plans.
• Strong risk management and change management skills.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, collaborative environment focused on innovation and product development.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, STEM, or a related technical field: preferred.
• Experience with robotics development, autonomous systems, automation, or engineering services: highly preferred.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programs: strongly desired.
• PMP certification or progress toward PMP certification: preferred.

Conditions

Location: Lexington, Kentucky.

Equal opportunity applies to all candidates.

Accommodations are available on request.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual bonus
• Annual merit increases
• Medical, dental, prescription drug, and vision insurance, with HRA and HSA options
• 401(k) match
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Employee assistance program
• Pet insurance
• Adoption assistance
• Community volunteer opportunities