Project Manager- New Product Development - Air Cooling (51532)

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here
At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design. It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

Position Summary
The NPD Project Manager – Air Cooling leads new product development (NPD) projects within the Product Development team, with a focus on innovative air-cooling solutions. This role owns the full project lifecycle, from concept initiation through design validation and product launch, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery while maintaining alignment with Gradian's engineering standards and strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Execution

Lead cross-functional NPD projects for new air-cooling technology from concept through commercialization, using a structured stage-gate or agile development process

Develop comprehensive project plans, including scope definition, schedules, resource plans, risk registers, and budget forecasts

Drive project execution by coordinating activities across Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Marketing

Monitor project performance against plan; proactively identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and elevate blockers as appropriate

Conduct regular project status reviews with stakeholders and present updates to Advanced Development leadership

Process & Governance

Partner with the PMO to adopt and maintain consistent project management practices, templates, and reporting standards across NPD efforts

Maintain accurate, up-to-date project documentation throughout the project lifecycle

Facilitate stage-gate reviews, ensuring deliverables meet defined criteria before progressing to the next phase

Support continuous improvement of Gradian's NPD process based on lessons learned and industry best practices

Collaboration

Serve as the primary point of contact and communication hub for assigned NPD projects

Build strong working relationships with R&D engineers, product managers, manufacturing engineers, and external suppliers or partners

Coordinate with Supply Chain and Operations to ensure design-for-manufacturability (DFM) considerations are addressed early in the development process

Collaborate with Quality to ensure new products meet applicable performance, safety, and regulatory requirements

Resource & Budget Management

Manage project budgets and track expenditures against approved plans; provide regular financial forecasts and variance explanations

Coordinate resource allocation across project teams; surface resource conflicts and work with functional managers to resolve them

Required
Qualifications & Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience

PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent formal project management education (e.g., a degree program with a concentration in project or program management), or equivalent relevant experience

Minimum of 5 years of progressive project management experience, including at least 3 years leading NPD or product development projects in a manufacturing or engineering environment

Demonstrated proficiency with project scheduling tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent)

Strong understanding of stage-gate product development processes

Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred

Experience in HVAC, thermal management, or related mechanical systems industries

Familiarity with air-side heat transfer principles and equipment (e.g., AHUs, fan coils, air handlers, heat exchangers)

Experience working within or alongside a PMO structure

Background in design-for-manufacturability (DFM) or design-for-quality (DFQ) methodologies

Proficiency with PLM or ERP systems

Six Sigma or Lean certification

Key Competencies

Ability to engage meaningfully with engineering teams on product design, testing, and performance trade-offs

Strong sense of ownership; bias toward action and on-time delivery

Ability to manage complexity, prioritize competing demands, and keep projects organized under ambiguity

Skilled at leading cross-functional teams without direct authority

Clear and concise communicator, both written and verbal, able to tailor messages to technical and executive audiences alike

Continuously seeks to improve processes, tools, and team effectiveness

Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental plans

Short-term and long-term disability insurance

Group term life insurance coverage

HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available

8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy

401k matching

Annual safety shoe allowance

Education assistance program

EEO Statement
Gradian is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity. We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.

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