Project Manager - Space & Defense Systems (SDS) Projects

ABB; Quebec; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ABB in Canada is seeking a Project Manager for Space & Defense Systems to lead complex programs from award through delivery, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance while coordinating cross-functional teams. This hybrid role based in Québec requires strong governance, risk and contract management, and fluency in English and French with willingness to travel internationally as needed.

You will drive execution in a highly regulated environment and contribute to strategic growth for ABB’s Space &

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in project/program management within space, defense, or regulated industries.
• Experience managing complex technical projects with lifecycle support.
• Knowledge of governance, risk, contract execution, and customer relationship management.
• Experience with government/defense/space contracts preferred.
• Fluency in French and English; willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex Space & Defense Systems projects from award to lifecycle support.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams across engineering, PM, systems integration, supply chain, quality, manufacturing, testing, qualification, and customer support.
• Ensure delivery safely, on time, on budget, and in line with commitments.
• Establish governance, risk tracking, change management, escalation, and dashboards.
• Drive contract execution with scope, margins, risk mitigation, and customer alignment.
• Support transition from proposal to execution by validating scope, budget, schedule, risks, and commitments.
• Partner with BD, sales, engineering, and operations to support relationships and feasibility.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, customer focus, quality, safety, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Skills

French & English fluency

Leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Project governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

Directeur de l'ingénierie

Project Manager - Space & Defense Systems (SDS) Projects

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

In this role, you’ll help run what runs the world by leading complex projects that support ABB’s Space & Defense Systems business. You will play a key role in delivering technically demanding customer programs in environments where quality, compliance, reliability, and strong execution discipline are essential.

The work model for the role is: Hybrid, based in Québec, Canada.

This role is contributing to the Space & Defense Systems business within ABB’s Measurement & Analytics division

Your Role And Responsibilities

• Managing complex Space & Defense Systems projects from award through execution, delivery, customer acceptance, and lifecycle support.
• Leading cross-functional project teams across engineering, program management, systems integration, supply chain, quality, manufacturing, testing, qualification, and customer support.
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly, on time, on budget, and in line with technical, quality, schedule, contractual, and customer commitments.
• Establishing strong project governance, including project reviews, risk tracking, change management, escalation management, corrective actions, and execution dashboards.
• Driving disciplined contract execution, including scope control, margin protection, claims support, risk mitigation, and alignment with customer requirements.
• Supporting the transition from proposal and contract award into execution by validating scope, budget, schedule, technical requirements, risks, and contractual commitments.
• Partnering with business development, sales, engineering, and operations stakeholders to support customer relationships, growth opportunities, and execution feasibility.
• Promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer focus, quality, safety, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Our team dynamics

You will join a collaborative and highly specialized team working on strategic Space & Defense Systems projects. The team partners across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, program management, and customer-facing functions to deliver solutions in complex and highly regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Business Management, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in project management, program management, engineering execution, contract delivery, or operations within space, defense, government technology, national security, mission-critical systems, aerospace, or another highly regulated industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex technical projects or customer programs involving engineering delivery, systems integration, qualification, testing, deployment, sustainment, or lifecycle support.
• Strong knowledge of program governance, risk management, contract execution, scope management, change management, schedule performance, and customer relationship management.
• Experience working with government, defense, space, strategic customer, fixed-price, cost-plus, framework, or government-funded contracts is preferred.
• Strong understanding of quality, cybersecurity, information security, export controls, regulatory compliance, documentation discipline, and secure technology environments.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, negotiation, and leadership skills, with fluency in French and English and willingness to travel internationally as required.

What's in it for you?

We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger.

More About Us

ABB’s Measurement & Analytics division delivers advanced technologies that help customers improve performance, safety, reliability, and sustainability. Within Space & Defense Systems, our teams support complex, mission-critical programs where technical execution, compliance, quality, and customer trust are central to success.

We value people from different backgrounds.

Employment Equity & Inclusion Statement (Canada)

ABB values the dedication, commitment, and expertise of all our employees. As an Employment Equity Employer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We actively support the principles of the Employment Equity Act and strive to build a workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity, including:

• Women
• Indigenous Peoples
• Members of visible minorities
• Persons with disabilities

ABB is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, we encourage you to let us know.