Motivepower, Inc

Senior Program Manager

Motivepower, Inc$104K — $149K *
Transportation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/BA degree required, ideally in engineering, software, or business management.
  • 7-10 years managing complex, cross-functional projects or programs.
  • Knowledge of Systems/Software Project Management is essential.
  • Proven track record of clarifying requirements, schedules, and acceptance criteria.
  • Experience with enterprise PM tools (Clarity, Primavera, Rally, Oracle) is preferred.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are key.
  • Ability to lead without authority in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

  • Support project delivery on schedule and budget within the Train Performance and Automation P&L.
  • Communicate cost, schedule, and delivery status to customers and stakeholders.
  • Identify and manage project risks to ensure successful outcomes.
  • Collaborate closely with manufacturing teams to manage demand and supply for projects.
  • Drive clarity in program execution from proposal through support stages.
  • Lead technical coordination and disciplined program controls for high-quality outcomes.
  • Facilitate proactive communication with customers and manage change orders effectively.

Benefits

  • Health and welfare packages, including medical and dental coverage.
  • Retirement plan options available to employees.
  • Paid training opportunities for skill enhancement.
  • Opportunities for growth and development within the company.
  • Potential for performance-based annual bonus.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Who will you be working with?

This position with support the Train Performance and Automation P&L within Digital Intelligence. The Program Manager will be a customer facing and will be responsible for delivering projects on schedule and on budget. This will include managing the project through quality, engineering and operations. This person will be expected to understand earned value financials, responsible for communicating cost, schedule, and production deliveries to customer (internal and/or external). The position will be responsible for identifying and managing risk associated with each project. This person will also work closely with the manufacturing team to manage demand and drive parts for projects assigned, as applicable. This position would preferably be located in Melbourne, FL or Cedar Rapids, IA.

How will you make a difference?

The Program Manager is responsible for leading programs from initial contract proposal through execution and support. This role ensures programs are built on a strong foundation, delivered according to commitments, and positioned for long-term customer success. The Program Manager drives technical coordination, risk-informed planning, customer communication, and disciplined program controls while fostering predictable, high-quality execution.

What do we want to know about you?

  • College BS/BA degree required, with preference given to engineering, software fields, or business management areas of study.
  • Must have knowledge of Systems/Software Project Management.
  • 7-10 years of experience managing complex, cross-functional projects or programs.
  • Proven ability to drive clarity in requirements, schedules, and acceptance criteria.
  • Experience with enterprise PM tools such as Clarity, Primavera, Rally, Oracle.
  • Strong communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead without authority in a matrixed environment.
  • 10-15% travel requirement

Key Skills & Competencies
  • Organizational Awareness - Ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
  • Coaching & Motivation - Lead teams through influence, development, and engagement.
  • Data Accuracy / Data Governance - Ensure data used in decisions and reporting is clean, consistent, and reliable.
  • Decision-Making - Make fast, informed decisions supported by facts, risk insights, and cross-functional alignment.
  • Digital Adoption - Competent with enterprise tools and digital program management platforms (Clarity, Rally, Primavera, Oracle).
  • Financial Acumen - Understand EAC, forecasting, cost control, and risk reserve management.
  • Process & Framework Adherence - Apply standard PMO processes rigorously.
  • Growth Mindset / Continuous Improvement - Seek efficiencies and drive better outcomes continuously.
  • Collaboration & Influence - Work across teams to drive commitments and resolve issues.
  • Data Visualization & Reporting - Convey complex information clearly to leadership and customers.


What will your typical day look like?1.Contract Proposal (ITO) Phase

Goal: Establish a strong foundation for execution success.

Build the foundation for successful delivery by:
  • Driving creation of the Statement of Work and ensuring clarity in deliverables.
  • Partnering with Engineering & Product teams to confirm technical feasibility, resource constraints, and capabilities.
  • Defining clear requirements and unambiguous acceptance criteria to prevent downstream rework.
  • Establishing and maintaining a realistic, achievable joint master schedule.
  • Developing resource-loaded, deliverable-based estimates to complete using systems such as Clarity.
  • Serving as the owner of EAC (Estimate at Completion), ensuring risk-loaded plans and forecasts.


2.Program Execution Phase

Goal: Deliver reliably and predictably on all program commitments.

Ensure programs deliver on commitments through disciplined execution:
  • Take ownership and proactively drive all aspects of program delivery.
  • Hold technical management resources accountable to program objectives.
  • Embed quality in planning to prevent rework and ensure reliable outcomes.
  • Manage scope and requirements aggressively through predictable change control processes.
  • Lead proactive customer communication, including meetings, follow-ups, and change order management.
  • Facilitate timely decision-making and eliminate delays.
  • Establish and maintain performance baselines for scope, schedule, and cost.
  • Conduct bi-weekly schedule status updates and forecasting.
  • Identify, track, and mitigate risk, maintaining an appropriate risk reserve/contingency budget.
  • Ensure strict alignment of program execution with project control tools (e.g., Primavera, Clarity, Rally, Oracle).

3. Support & Lifecycle Contribution
  • Reinforce the principles established in proposal and execution phases to support long-term customer satisfaction.
  • Ensure Delivery and Support Services are positioned for continued customer value and future growth opportunities.


You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.

More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

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Qualifications

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $[redacted]00 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

About Motivepower, Inc

MotivePower, Inc. is an American manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wabtec, and traces its history back to the MK Rail division of Morrison-Knudsen.
Learn more about Motivepower, Inc
Industry
Founded
1999

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