Job type: Full Time - Exempt
Location: Tualatin Oregon
Title: Program Manager
Reports to: Director of Engineering & Quality, West Coast.
Schedule: Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm - Onsite
Salary range: $100K to $130K per year
Position SummaryThe Project / Program Manager owns the planning, execution, and reporting of the engineering and operations project portfolio across the West Coast sites. The role is based at Shields and supports Viper Northwest. The main purpose of the position is to deliver the customer volume ramp on schedule by keeping capital equipment projects, new product introductions, and continuous improvement initiatives on track and visible to leadership.
You will run the NPI phase gate process from G0 through G5, manage capital projects from approval through qualification, and manage the continuous improvement project portfolio. You will be the single point of contact for program status for site leadership and for the customer.
Key ResponsibilitiesRamp and capital programs- Build and maintain the integrated ramp plan covering equipment, tooling, staffing, and qualification milestones for both sites.
- Manage capital equipment projects from justification through install, runoff, qualification, and handoff to production. Current programs include pallet pool automation, lathe fleet replacement, and high pressure coolant installs.
- Coordinate with Supply Chain, Production, Quality, Facilities, and equipment vendors to hold install and qualification dates.
- Track program budgets and spend against approved capital, and flag variances early.
- Prepare customer-facing milestone reports and support customer reviews on ramp readiness.
NPI phase gate process- Own the G0 to G5 phase gate process for new product introductions at both sites.
- Schedule and run gate reviews, confirm deliverables are complete, and record gate decisions and open actions.
- Keep the NPI pipeline visible, with status, risks, and resource needs for each program.
- Work with Engineering, Quality, and Production to resolve blockers that threaten launch dates.
- Maintain the phase gate checklist, tracker, and SOP, and train new participants on the process.
Continuous improvement project portfolio- Manage the portfolio of CI projects across both sites,
- Run project charters, task lists, and status reviews using the standard project management templates.
- Prioritize projects against the site strategy and Hoshin objectives, and keep leadership informed on progress and results.
- Capture and verify savings and throughput gains from completed projects.
Governance and reporting- Maintain a master project list with owners, dates, status, and risk for all active programs.
- Produce weekly status reporting for site leadership, with escalations where a program is at risk.
- Run the project review cadence and keep action logs current.
- Apply consistent project management methods, templates, and change control across the portfolio.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Five or more years of project or program management experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing capital equipment projects, including installation and qualification.
- Working knowledge of a formal new product introduction or stage gate process.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Strong skills in planning, scheduling, risk management, and status communication.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Excel, and PowerPoint or equivalent tools.
- Ability to travel regularly between the Tualatin and Albany sites.
Preferred Qualifications- PMP or equivalent project management certification.
- Experience in precision CNC machining, semiconductor equipment supply chain, or a similar high-mix manufacturing environment.
- Experience with ERP systems (SyteLine preferred) and PDM or document control systems.
- Experience supporting customer volume ramps or site expansions.
What Success Looks Like in the First Year- The integrated ramp plan is built, baselined, and reviewed weekly with leadership.
- Capital projects approved for the ramp are installed and qualified on schedule.
- Every active NPI program is in the phase gate process with a current gate status.
- The CI project portfolio has clear owners, dates, and verified results.
- Leadership and the customer receive consistent, accurate program status without chasing it.
Working ConditionsOffice and shop floor environment in a precision machining facility. Regular time on the production floor around operating equipment. Regular travel between Tualatin and Albany, with occasional travel to customer or vendor sites. Standard day shift with flexibility during installs, qualifications, and customer reviews.
