Business: Oxford Instruments: X-Ray Technology
Location: Scotts Valley, California.
Reports to: Engineering Director
Job Title: Project Manager
Primary Purpose: We are looking for a Project Manager to join our Engineering team. In this role, you will lead the development and delivery of new products from planning through to successful launch and first customer deliveries.
You will own Project Management at Oxford Instruments X-Ray Technology, ensuring a disciplined, consistent, and effective cross-functional approach that drives alignment, accountability, and predictable delivery outcomes.
This role is ideal if...- You have a proven track record of delivering complex product development projects in a high-tech environment, coordinating across multiple cross-functional teams
- You are experienced in delivering products incorporating both hardware and software, including new or evolving technologies
- You are comfortable working in structured development environments (stage-gate, Agile, or hybrid), and have successfully applied these frameworks in practice
- You have strong experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or equivalent, and understand how to use them to drive execution, not just reporting
- You are confident leading teams through ambiguity, holding stakeholders accountable, and ensuring commitments are met
- You are able to balance involvement in projects without displacing ownership from technical leads
- You have formal project management training or equivalent experience, a degree in Physics, Engineering or a related discipline would be advantageous.
What your role will look like...Project Management (PM) Leadership and Execution:
- Own, implement, and continuously operate the PM framework, including governance, reporting, and project cadence
- Ensure PM processes are consistently applied and adopted across engineering and cross-functional teams
- Translate frameworks and plans into sustained, operational practices that improve delivery outcomes
Project Delivery and Alignment:
- Drive alignment of deliverables, ownership, and timelines across all stakeholders
- Ensure projects progress with clear accountability, predictable execution, and timely recovery when deviations occur
- Identify and address misalignment early to minimize downstream impact
Governance:
- Establish and maintain a consistent project governance cadence (e.g., weekly or biweekly meetings)
- Ensure all meetings have clear agendas, documented actions, defined owners, and due dates
- Track actions to closure and ensure meetings drive decisions, alignment, and issue resolution
Leadership, Delegation, and Accountability:
- Lead through others by clearly assigning ownership and holding individuals accountable for delivery
- Build capability across the team through coaching and mentorship
- Maintain focus on leadership and oversight rather than direct execution
Risk, Issue, and Escalation Management:
- Proactively identify and manage risks and issues
- Escalate concerns early with clear mitigation plans
- Maintain transparent and accurate communication of project health
Planning, Tracking, and Reporting- Maintain accurate, realistic project plans and timelines
- Ensure reporting provides actionable insight and drives decision-making
- Use tools effectively to support execution and accountability
CompensationIn accordance with California law, the expected salary for this full-time, benefited position is between $120,000 - $130,000. The actual compensation will be determined considering factors such as relevant skills and experience and other factors permitted by law.
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