Head of Engineering and Project Management

Project Manager New Product Development (NPD)This contract Project Manager role runs for approximately 36 months with the potential for extension based on performance and evolving project needs. You will lead critical New Product Development initiatives for next-generation shore power conversion systems used in marine applications, guiding complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through product launch. In this highly visible position, you will ensure alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, and product development milestones while helping to shape and standardize project management best practices within a growing engineering organization focused on advanced energy conversion technologies.ResponsibilitiesLead the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple concurrent New Product Development projects while maintaining scope, schedule, and resource objectives.Develop, maintain, and continuously update detailed project schedules, including milestones, dependencies, and critical paths to support successful product launches.Coordinate and drive accountability across cross-functional teams, including Electrical Engineering, Software/Firmware, Mechanical Engineering, Quality/Compliance, Operations, and Product Leadership.Facilitate core team meetings by preparing agendas, leading discussions, documenting decisions, tracking action items, and ensuring timely follow-through.Identify, assess, and monitor schedule and technical risks throughout the project lifecycle and implement proactive mitigation strategies.Communicate project status, risks, resource needs, and execution plans clearly and regularly to leadership and key stakeholders.Support the implementation, optimization, and ongoing adoption of project management tools and processes, including Wrike and other enterprise platforms.Drive continuous improvement in project management practices, resource planning, and reporting across the organization.Conduct post-project reviews, capture lessons learned, and apply insights to strengthen future development efforts.Collaborate with cross-functional partners on estimation, budgeting, and vendor management activities to ensure projects remain on track and within constraints.Utilize project management methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid approaches to structure and guide project execution.Prepare dashboards and executive-level project reports to provide visibility into progress, risks, and resource utilization.Support manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), and product commercialization activities as projects move toward launch.Help establish and refine scalable technical project management standards that support a fast-paced, innovation-focused engineering environment.Essential SkillsBachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field.Minimum of 3 years of project management experience supporting New Product Development programs.Proven ability to create detailed project plans, manage schedules, and drive execution against defined milestones.Experience managing projects involving hardware, electronics, software, firmware, industrial equipment, medical devices, or other technical products.Strong project planning, scheduling, and execution management capabilities in fast-paced development environments.Technical fluency in hardware and software product development environments, including integrated electronic and software-based systems.Strong understanding of project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid approaches.Expertise in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation, with a track record of implementing effective corrective actions.Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across engineering, operations, and product teams.Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent projects.Proficiency with project management tools and reporting systems, including Microsoft Office.Experience with Wrike, Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, or similar project management platforms.Demonstrated ability to drive accountability and maintain project momentum across cross-functional teams.Additional Skills & QualificationsExperience developing electronic, embedded, electromechanical, or software-enabled products.Experience supporting hardware and software development teams simultaneously on integrated solutions.Familiarity with system integration, design reviews, product verification, validation, and qualification testing.Experience implementing or improving project management processes, standards, and best practices in an engineering organization.PMP, NPDP, or equivalent project management certification.Experience with resource planning, dashboard creation, and executive project reporting.Industry experience in medical devices, industrial equipment, marine electronics, power electronics, or related technical fields.Background in electrical or mechanical engineering or project engineering in technical environments.Experience with estimation, scheduling, and budgeting for engineering projects.Exposure to vendor management and coordination in support of project delivery.Hands-on experience with enterprise project management platforms such as Wrike, Microsoft Project, and Jira.Work EnvironmentThis role is based on-site in an open office floor plan within a growing engineering organization focused on next-generation shore power and energy conversion technologies for the marine industry. You will work closely with cross-functional engineering, operations, and product teams in a collaborative, fast-paced environment that emphasizes innovation, technical excellence, and continuous improvement. Daily work involves extensive use of project management and productivity tools such as Wrike, Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, and Microsoft Office, as well as interaction with engineering teams working on hardware, electronics, software, firmware, and power electronics. The environment encourages transparent communication, shared ownership of project outcomes, and active participation in shaping project management best practices and resource planning processes.Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA.Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.