Project Manager

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Crewe; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

MKS Instruments in Crewe (UK) is seeking a Project Manager (hybrid) to drive NPI and sustaining projects from concept through production launch. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, maintain disciplined project tracking, and communicate status clearly in a matrixed environment.

Ideal candidates have a technical background, 5+ years of industrial experience, and a proactive, improvement-minded approach. Occasional travel and overlap across US/UK time zones are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 5+ years of related industrial experience required.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects with engineering, manufacturing, and quality stakeholders.
• Technical proficiency – comfortable in technical discussions, with background in engineering (e.g. electronics) and/or analytical product development preferred.
• Working knowledge of stage-gate or similar product development processes.
• Ability to build and maintain project schedules with clear dependency tracking.
• Comfortable working in matrixed environments without direct authority over project team members.
• Continuous improvement mindset – apply MKS Product Development Process to the project objectives and develop process and teamworking principles to continuously improve outcomes.
• Able to flex working hours as needed to maintain regular overlap with colleagues and stakeholders across US and UK time zones.
• Ability to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Manage execution of multiple projects across the product development lifecycle, including scope, schedule, budget, and risk management.
• Coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and business teams to drive project milestones and resolve blockers.
• Build and maintain project schedules, tracking task dependencies and surfacing risks and delays early enough to act on them.
• Track project financials including budget consumption and variance reporting, escalating concerns before they become problems.
• Prepare and lead project status at gate reviews and regular program reviews, with clear and accurate communication of progress, risks, and open issues.
• Maintain project documentation consistent with ISO quality system requirements, ensuring deliverables and decisions are traceable and audit-ready.
• Identify resource conflicts and scope changes early, working with functional managers to resolve them or framing escalations with recommended actions.
• Support the division's project prioritization process by maintaining accurate and current project data.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional

Engineering background

Stage-gate process

Resource planning

Matrix environment

Travel 15%

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS: We are looking for our next Project Manager (hybrid mode) to drive the execution of NPI and sustaining projects across our business unit, manage cross-functional development projects from concept through production launch, in our company MKS based in Crewe (UK). Reporting to the Director of Project Management and working closely with engineering directors and functional leads, this role requires the ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams, maintain disciplined project tracking, and communicate status clearly and transparently. The right candidate is proactive, technically curious, and comfortable operating in a matrixed environment where building relationships is essential to getting things done.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Manage execution of multiple projects across the product development lifecycle, including scope, schedule, budget, and risk management
• Coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and business teams to drive project milestones and resolve blockers
• Build and maintain project schedules, tracking task dependencies and surfacing risks and delays early enough to act on them
• Track project financials including budget consumption and variance reporting, escalating concerns before they become problems
• Prepare and lead project status at gate reviews and regular program reviews, with clear and accurate communication of progress, risks, and open issues
• Maintain project documentation consistent with ISO quality system requirements, ensuring deliverables and decisions are traceable and audit‑ready
• Identify resource conflicts and scope changes early, working with functional managers to resolve them or framing escalations with recommended actions
• Support the division's project prioritization process by maintaining accurate and current project data

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 5+ years of related industrial experience required
• Experience managing cross‑functional projects with engineering, manufacturing, and quality stakeholders
• Technical proficiency – comfortable in technical discussions, with background in engineering (e.g. electronics) and/or analytical product development preferred
• Working knowledge of stage‑gate or similar product development processes
• Ability to build and maintain project schedules with clear dependency tracking
• Comfortable working in matrixed environments without direct authority over project team members
• Continuous improvement mindset – apply MKS Product Development Process to the project objectives and develop process and teamworking principles to continuously improve outcomes
• Able to flex working hours as needed to maintain regular overlap with colleagues and stakeholders across US and UK time zones
• Ability to travel up to 15%

Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related technical discipline strongly preferred
• Experience managing projects in a hardware development environment strongly preferred
• CAPM, PRINCE2 Foundation, or equivalent entry‑level certification.
• Working toward PMP/APM PMQ a plus
• Experience in semiconductor equipment, industrial technology, or a related precision manufacturing industry
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems and audit processes
• Experience participating in or supporting customer‑facing engineering discussions
• Experience with project budgeting and financial tracking

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business. MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [e-mail].

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.

At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action, and solving our customers’ toughest challenges. It's not just a job – it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on‑the‑job and formal training, as well as educational assistance. Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path. Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice‑to‑have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.

Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets. With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data. We're the behind‑the‑scenes support for some amazing technology. MKS Instruments enables technologies that transform our world.

MKS Instruments Product Overview