Project Manager - Manufacturing Automation Capex

Summary/Objective

In this high-visibility, high-impact role working directly with Operations Management, the successful Project Manager will help advance our emerging PMO capability by bringing structure, templates and best practices (we currently use Jira + Confluence for engineering workflows and want to extend that into formal project management). Using proven manufacturing capex execution experience, the Project Manager will own these projects from detailed design through commissioning and handover.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Own end-to-end execution of 3 concurrent automation projects ($1.0M–$1.5M each)
• Drive schedule, budget, scope, risk, vendors, and cross-functional coordination
• Maintain detailed project plans, critical path tracking, and weekly executive reporting
• Lead risk/issue identification, escalation, and mitigation
• Manage FAT, SAT, commissioning, and handover to operations
• Deliver weekly status updates to project stakeholders (schedule, risks, next week goals, help needed)
• Deliver monthly board-level status updates (financials, schedule, risks, achievements)
• Help stand up foundational PMO elements
  :
  • Standard project templates & governance
  • Consistent Jira + Confluence usage for capex projects
  • Basic portfolio visibility & reporting cadence
• Mentor internal engineers on project management discipline

• Background in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement preferred
• Strong hands‑on experience with Jira and Confluence for project tracking, reporting, and documentation
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects simultaneously
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills
• Comfortable working on‑site in a fast‑paced, production‑driven environment
• Background in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement

This position has no direct reports.

This job operates in a professional office and manufacturing environments and routinely uses standard office equipment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, some of which may be done with accommodations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate both verbally and in writing. The employee is frequently required to move about the office, use a computer, and reach with hands and arms.

May be necessary to lift up to 50 lbs. (assisted). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision.

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week, contract position with scheduled on‑site work hours Monday through Friday.

No travel is expected for this position.

• 8+ years project management experience in a manufacturing / industrial / automation environment
• Proven track record delivering capex equipment/automation projects on time and budget (~$500k–$5M)
• PMP certification (or equivalent) strongly preferred
• Experience in CNC machining, automated production and metrology applications preferred
• Experience helping stand up or mature a PMO function preferred

Harmonic Drive LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

U.S. Export Controls Requirements:
This job may require access to technology, materials, software or hardware that is controlled by the export laws of the United States. Candidates are required to provide proof of either US citizenship, Permanent US residency or classification as a protected individual as defined in 8 USC 1324b (a) (3).

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.