Research Program Manager, Sensors

Job Description

Job Description

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

Position Summary:

The HRL Materials and Microsystems Laboratory (MML) is seeking a motivated and agile senior technical project manager to support the technical teams in executing rapid-paced, transformative technology development projects in the areas of sensors and advanced materials. The role with partner with project principal investigators (PIs) and help ensure successful project execution through support and management of program bid/proposal stages, project planning, and team and subcontractor performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic planning, scheduling, and management of multi-phase development projects that rapidly mature and deploy new technologies
• Plan and advocate as required for resources (personnel, equipment, space, etc.)
• Effectively communicate cost and schedule risk to customers, PIs, and laboratory leadership
• Provide programmatic, financial and technical reporting to customers and internal stakeholders
• Proactively engage project teams on execution progress, strategic planning and development and implementation risk management plans
• Provide recommendations to senior management for opportunities to improve execution
• Prioritize workflows and staffing allocations to maximize project innovation and rate of technology maturation

Required Qualifications:

• BS, MS, or PhD in a science or engineering field
• 8+ years of project management, ideally with an emphasis on early to mid-stage research and development (R&D), product development (PD) and government funded contract research and development projects
• Experience with project execution: including but not limited to contracting, sub-contracting, supplier management, finance, purchasing, and legal
• Ability to dynamically re-plan projects and communicate changes as new information and results are acquired and resulting from changes to constraints in resources including staffing, procurements, and financials
• A broad technical background in the fundamental aspects of science and engineering is required. Technical familiarity with microfabrication process flows for electronic components including MEMS is highly desirable
• Costing and scheduling skills include the ability to produce and maintain a networked and resourced master integrated schedule (IMS), critical path analysis, earned value analysis, and presentation of MIS to customers and leadership desirable
• Expertise in MS Project or equivalent, MS office suite
• Effective interpersonal skills to bridge the gap between technical and business functions
• Excellent oral and written communication, interaction with vendors/colleagues and willingness to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Special Requirements:

U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $172,900 - $221,600
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range
displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position.
Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors,
including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter
can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits
package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance,
401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and
challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply
to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a
diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past
experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you
to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform
pre-employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the
law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
For our privacy policy please visit:

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.