PCL Node Operations and Program Manager
Job no: 538154
Work type: Administrative & Professional
Senior management: College of Engineering
Department: Electrical and ComputerEngineering
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Engineering, Other, Research / Scientific, Program/Project Management
Job Description
The PCL Node Operations and Program Manager supports Virginia Tech's Programmable Cloud Laboratory (PCL) Node within the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering. The position provides program controls and coordinates operational readiness for the PCL Node, one of approximately 20 nodes nationwide funded through a four-year National Science Foundation award. The Virginia Tech PCL Node integrates semiconductor fabrication and characterization instruments with scientific data infrastructure, digital twins, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and supervised automation.
Reporting to the PCL Node Principal Investigator/Director, the position manages the integrated program schedule and tracks milestones, risks, decisions, dependencies, corrective actions, and performance measures. The position coordinates NSF reporting inputs and partner deliverables across a multi-institutional collaboration and manages formal handoffs between the teams developing the Node and those responsible for its ongoing operation.
The position coordinates technical contributions to NSF reports, with the Principal Investigator retaining final review and submission authority. This position does not currently have assigned direct reports but may assume supervisory responsibilities in the future.
Required Qualifications
• Master's degree in relative field or Bachelor's degree with appropriate experience in engineering, science, business, public administration, project management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Professional experience coordinating complex technical, research, laboratory, infrastructure, or advanced manufacturing programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing integrated schedules, risk registers, milestone-tracking systems, or comparable program controls.
• Experience tracking risks, decisions, reports, action items, and stakeholder dependencies.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary or multi-institutional teams.
• Experience maintaining accurate and traceable program records.
Preferred Qualifications
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Significant relevant professional experience, including experience supporting NSF-funded or other federally sponsored, multi-institutional research programs.
• PMP, PgMP, CAPM, or comparable project or program management credential.
• Experience with shared-user facilities, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor research, cleanroom environments, or cyber-physical infrastructure.
• History demonstrating familiarity with subawards, operational-readiness reviews, research compliance, or program-level performance measures.
• Experience using program-management or scheduling software such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Jira.
• Demonstrated work history showing familiarity with NSF's Research.gov reporting system.
• Work history showing strong organizational, analytical, written, verbal, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and maintain accurate records while managing competing deadlines.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
$80,000 - $110,000, Commensurate with Experience
Hours per week
40
Review Date
10/22/2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
Advertised: October 12, 2026
Applications close:
Whatsapp Facebook LinkedIn Email App
