Project Manager II

1 Job Summary

The Project Manager steers multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, software, firmware, manufacturing, service, and marketing) through our Stage‑Gate framework including manufacturing transfer, ensuring every launch achieves performance, schedule, and cost targets. The PM plans, facilitates, and integrates all new‑product work and communicates progress against cost, schedule, and user‑experience goals to management and stakeholders.

2 Essential Duties, Responsibilities, and Expectations

Project and Technical Leadership

• Lead 2–5 concurrent New Product Development projects (budgets $200 k–$1 M, teams of 6–12+).

• Translate market and research needs into system‑level requirements, architectures, and work‑packages.

• Develop project scope, schedules, cost estimates, resource plans, and communication plans.

• Drive detailed schedules in MS Project; coordinate work assignments in Jira; surface critical‑path, resource, and risk data weekly.

• Assist with day‑to‑day project activities; flexibility to work extended hours when needed.

Process Excellence

• Execute Stage-Gate templates, integrating Agile sprints and other methodologies to deliver best-in-class products.

• Develop and refine PMO processes, metrics, and KPIs; identify and close organizational gaps.

• Create and maintain records, reports, correspondence, and deliverables relative to project work.

• Drive design‑for‑manufacture, assembly, and reliability reviews; own risk registers and quality checkpoints within our ISO‑compliant QMS.

• Oversee the generation and upkeep of the full technical record—drawings, BOMs, ECOs, and test data—inside our CAD/PLM (SolidWorks) and PCB (Altium 365) systems, ensuring every release package is complete.

Stakeholder and Supplier Coordination

• Facilitate weekly status meetings with team members and key stakeholders.

• Conduct gate reviews and monthly project updates, including risk-and-mitigation briefs, with project sponsors and executives.

• Coordinate technical requirements and build schedules with critical suppliers to keep prototype and production timelines on track.

• Own the stakeholder communication plan – escalate roadblocks early, align priorities, and secure fast decisions to protect the critical path.

• Run cross-functional alignment workshops to surface competing priorities and drive consensus on scope, cost and schedule.

• Translate technical impacts into business terms and visualize options with roadmaps, cost-benefit dashboards, and risk maps so senior leaders can make informed, timely calls.

Performance & Compliance

• Achieve or beat new-product key-performance specifications and project KPI’s on every release.

• Coordinate compliance test plans with internal teams and external labs; capture results in the project deliverable files.

3 Minimum Qualifications (Experience / Education)

• B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (M.S. preferred)
• CAPM (required) or PMP (preferred)
• 3-5 yrs of complex product development- cryogenics, vacuum, or precision motion experience strongly preferred.

4 Competencies // Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s)

• Deep working knowledge of closed-cycle cryocoolers, thermal modeling, vacuum science, and low-temp instrumentation OR the ability to understand complicated engineering principles quickly and thoroughly.
• Skilled in Stage-Gage, Agile/Scrum, risk matrices, and cost-down methodologies.
• Strong communicator who leads through influence—aligning teams outside your direct reporting line.
• Adept at navigating competing departmental values to broker win-win solutions among engineering, manufacturing, finance, and business leadership.
• Analytical, organized, and comfortable juggling multiple high-stakes launches in a fast-growth environment.
• Proficiency with MS Project, Jira, SolidWorks, Altium 365, and common PLM/ERP toolchains.

5 Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing scientific instruments or high-precision mechanical systems
• Background in physics, materials science, or cryogenics
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, thermal management, and vibration isolation
• Experience with ERP systems and engineering documentation workflows

What We Offer You:

• Competitive salaries, annual bonuses, and opportunities for growth.
• Comprehensive health & insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision).
• Company HSA Seed.
• Company paid life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• 401k matching up to 6%.
• PTO, personal days, sick days, and company paid holidays.
• Company sponsored team events.

Montana Instruments Values:

In all that Montana Instruments accomplishes, we stay true to our values:

• Results-driven.
• Courageous.
• Team-first.

We want to create an environment where champions are enabled in every area of the company. We want to hire people who have the desire and potential to do great things. We want to give people the freedom and responsibility to become champions as part of a professional team.

About Bozeman:

Montana Instruments is located in Bozeman, Montana, a vibrant town at the foot of the Bridger Mountains within an hour of three great ski hills, several world-class fly-fishing rivers, and plenty of adventure (Yellowstone National Park is just 90 minutes south).

Bozeman is Montana’s biggest tech hub and home to quantum companies like Teledyne, Flir, and ADVR Incorporated, as well as Spectrum Labs and QCore at Montana State University. It is one of the fastest-growing cities of its size in the nation and regularly recognized as one of America's "coolest" cities.

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