Program Engineering Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Summary

The Program Engineering Manager (PEM) will be responsible for program technical leadership; they will plan, execute, and manage all engineering efforts within their programs. They will monitor and drive engineering cost and schedule performance, while ensuring program technical objectives are met. This role will support multiple programs including proposal activities, research projects, development programs, and/or production programs. The successful applicant will bring a strong RF design, production, and systems engineering background.

This position manages the on-site engineers’ technical tasks, identifies appropriate staffing needs, and is a key member of the Division leadership team. Other program stakeholders for which this technical leader interfaces are the program managers, contracts, finance, quality, operations, suppliers, and our customers. This engineering leadership position is involved in the complete engineering (ISO certified) lifecycle of products and programs from concept definition, through the proposal phase, requirements analysis, development and test, verification, and sustainment. This includes performing reviews of the various engineering work-products produced by the engineers during the lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and production of custom digital and RF systems designs
• Work with Principal Investigators to advance overall technical skills and develop R&D expertise in the forefront of compact phased array and digital signal processing systems
• Be the engineering focal point for all activity within their programs including strategic planning, bid and proposal support for engineering content, engineering strategy and integrated plans on programs, engineering staffing, issue reporting, and risk and opportunity management
• Provide overall project technical execution leadership; plan, execute, and manage all engineering efforts within the project. This includes tailoring company processes and procedures to execute programs ranging from research to volume production
• Partner and collaborate with program managers, Team Leads, subcontractors, customers, and factories to ensure program goals, requirements, and needs are understood and achieved
• Develop and monitor project plans and execution to ensure technical and work scope requirements, schedule, and budget are well defined and maintained
• Effectively communicate with clear, concise messaging to teams and leadership

Because this role involves close collaboration with a diversity of staff operating in physical laboratories and production environments, the role is onsite at our Columbus Ohio Facility.

Responsibilities

• Actively contributes to business unit strategic planning. Assists in the development of the business unit marketing plan, financial plan and human resources plan. Provides input to the required skill set mix required to execute major programs and/or project portfolio.
• Guides project and task managers in using configuration management and control processes to manage project/program change. Establishes strategies for using EVM analysis in making project/program decisions to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of specified services and products. Monitors the use of EVM analysis by managers to make responsible decisions about performance of subcontractors, partners and others. Ensures change management policies and processes to evaluate changes, examine options, and make responsible decisions regarding scope, schedule and performance change are followed. Ensures that control is exercised over budgets, acquisitions, schedules, configuration, risk, and technical performance throughout the program implementation process.
• Recruits and selects program, project and task managers. Oversees and advises project and task managers as they structure and schedule interrelated program work activities to efficiently meet program goals.
• Serves as an influential coach/mentor to project/program managers. Provides leadership to project/program managers on how to build coaching and mentoring relationships within their teams. Creates opportunities for professional networking and collegial interaction within the program and between business lines.
• Has significant responsibilities in contract negotiation activities and has a thorough knowledge of contractual issues relative to the program being managed relevant to scope of the work, scheduling and subcontracts. Advises contract managers on program execution and delivery issues.
• Represents Battelle to senior leadership in client organizations. Prepares and presents presentations to internal and customer senior leadership to provide reviews and updates on technical aspects, cost, and schedule.
• Integrates safety policies and regulations into the program plan. Ensures that programs and projects conduct safety assessments. Establishes guidelines for ensuring that adequate safety assessments are performed.
• Knows, understands and applies Battelle processes and procedures. Implements Project Management best practices and management policies. Understands, embraces and executes relevant Quality Systems and applicable industry regulations. Maintains a thorough understanding of and ensures compliance with applicable government and industry regulations.

Key Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret clearance, ability to obtain TS/SCI and SAP clearances. Must be a sole US citizen.
• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or a similar field
• 10 years’ engineering experience encompassing all or most of the following skills:
• Microwave/RF system, subsystem and component analysis, design, prototyping and integration
• Hands-on design experience with electromagnetic simulation and modeling tools such as HFSS, CST, ADS, Genesys and/or AWR
• Designing, testing and integrating Electronically Steered Antennas (ESAs) or other multi-channel integrated RF systems for beam steering or direction-finding systems
• Implementing highly integrated systems with high-speed data converters (GHz+), RF Systems on Chip, or Direct Sampling techniques
• Technical writing for proposals, white papers, test plans and reports
• Prior experience as a Cost Account Manager (CAM) working in an Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
• Experience supporting new design bring-up
• Experience bringing new technologies to production with demonstrated ability to systematically determine root cause for problems
• Experience interfacing with manufacturers and suppliers across the field to produce an RF System
• Ability to coordinate technical project performance with program leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD. in engineering or a similar field.
• Prior experience in a product development environment; able to look beyond the immediate need to produce the right product for a larger customer set
• 5 years’ experience as a Program Engineering Manager (PEM), Technical Project Manager, or as a Program Manager (PM)
• Prior experience as a Cost Account Manager (CAM) working in an Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
• Designing RF/microwave Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and Card Carrier Assemblies (CCA)
• Designing RF/microwave features including frequency conversion, automatic gain control, custom amplification circuits, matching networks and filters
• Experience integrating high frequency electronics into packages using CCAs and/or chip and wire technology
• Experience using MATLAB for modeling, analysis, and design of free space RF links, EBS patterns, DSP or related subject matter
• Creating and/or working with RF/microwave link budgets to drive system requirements
• Working with Software Defined Radios (SDR), including utilizing them in RF system cascades and writing software for them
• ECAD design experience using software suites such as Mentor Xpedition and PADS, Cadance Virtuoso and Allegro, and Altium Designer
• Testing using standard EE and RF/microwave equipment such as vector network analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, noise sources, multimeter, and signal sources
• Familiarity with the setup and operation of military communication and EW equipment
• Prior experience developing RF products or RF ASICs
• Experience leading teams (including subcontractors) across multiple remote sites
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical research to large audiences

Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life
We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.

• Balance life through a compressed work schedule: Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
• Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, dependent on team and position needs.
• Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together: Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.

A Work Environment Where You Succeed
For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.

You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:

• Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects
• Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery
• Partner with world-class experts in a collaborative environment
• Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders
• Give back to and improve our communities

Vaccinations & Safety Protocols

Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).

Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.

The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.