Manager, Prototype & New Product Launch (R5278)

What you'll do:

Lead day-to-day execution of prototype, integration, and pre-production build activities, ensuring schedule, quality, and program objectives are achieved. 
Serve as the primary build coordinator across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management teams. 
Drive issue identification, escalation, and resolution during prototype and NPI builds, ensuring blockers are quickly addressed and closed. 
Facilitate daily build reviews, action item tracking, and cross-functional communication to maintain alignment across stakeholders. 
Monitor build progress, material availability, engineering changes, and production readiness activities to keep development schedules on track. 
Partner with engineering teams to support build-test-learn cycles, providing feedback on manufacturability, assembly challenges, and process improvements. 
Coordinate implementation of engineering changes, non-conformance resolutions, and corrective actions throughout development builds. 
Maintain build status reporting, risk tracking, and executive-level communication regarding schedule impacts, issues, and mitigation plans. 
Continuously improve prototype build processes, issue management systems, and cross-functional execution frameworks. 

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical field. 
5+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or advanced manufacturing environments. 
Experience managing prototype builds, NPI programs, integration activities, or complex hardware development efforts. 
Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional issue resolution in fast-paced development environments. 
Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. 
Experience working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams. 
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. 

Preferred qualifications:

Experience supporting aerospace, UAV, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing programs. 
Familiarity with product development lifecycles, engineering change management, and manufacturing readiness processes. 
Experience using project management, issue tracking, and production planning tools. 
PMP certification or equivalent program management training. 
Previous experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), prototype development, or production launch activities.