Technical Project Manager

lowRISC; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension (up to 12.5%)

33 days holiday incl. public holidays

Private medical insurance

4 week sabbatical after 4 years

Job summary

lowRISC is seeking an experienced Technical Project Manager to lead complex silicon subsystem and chip design projects from our Cambridge office. This hybrid/on-site role requires coordinating with engineering teams and external partners to deliver open source silicon designs, firmware, and tools.

You will manage SoWs, track risks, and ensure delivery across embedded software and hardware workflows, while fostering cross-functional collaboration and excellent stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Three+ years of project management experience in highly technical environments.
• Strong planning and delivery management skills for complex projects.
• Experience coordinating hardware/embedded software teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan, track, and manage complex subsystem and chip design projects.
• Apply structured project planning with engineering teams.
• Align digital design, verification, and embedded software with silicon partners.
• Draft and execute SoWs, manage scope changes, and track risks.
• Track and comply with grant-funded R&D projects.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Hardware development

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Job description

About lowRISC

lowRISC CIC is a non-profit Community Interest Company, collaborating with international engineering partners to create and maintain open source silicon designs, firmware and tools. This includes lowRISC’s flagship OpenTitan project - the largest open source silicon project in the world.

Through projects like OpenTitan we partner with organisations such as ETH Zürich, G+D Mobile Security, Google and Nuvoton. We also maintain close links to researchers in computer architecture at the University of Cambridge amongst other research communities.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Technical Project Manager to join our engineering team and deliver complex silicon subsystem and chip design projects. This is an hybrid/on-site hands-on role based in our Cambridge office, working closely with both our technical teams and major commercial semiconductor partners to coordinate the delivery of high-quality open source silicon designs, firmware, and tools.

Key responsibilities

• Plan, track, and manage complex subsystem and chip design projects for major commercial customers.
• Apply structured project/programme planning tools, working closely with engineering teams on silicon and embedded software projects.
• Align internal digital design, verification, and embedded software teams with external silicon partners and academic collaborators.
• Collaborate with engineering leads to draft and execute Statements of Work (SoWs), manage technical scope changes, and run robust risk tracking.
• Manage tracking and compliance for grant-funded research and development projects.

Required experience

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 3 years project management experience in highly technical environments.
• Strong understanding of good practices in planning and managing delivery in technically challenging projects.
• Strong grasp of hardware development processes of Embedded Systems including digital design, FPGA development, silicon design flows or firmware / software.
• Experience working closely with technical teams and facilitating cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong relationship management abilities, excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable experience

• Professional certification in project management (APM, PMP or equivalent).
• Familiarity with open-source silicon communities and collaborative governance.

Salary, Benefits, and Sponsorship

Starting salary is £70-90,000 GBP depending on experience. Benefits include a generous employer pension contribution (up to 12.5%), holiday allowance (33 days including public holidays), private medical insurance, and a 4 week paid sabbatical after 4 years of service.

The team is based in Cambridge, UK, amongst the Silicon Fen’s ecosystem of high tech startups. Our office is in the heart of the city and a short walk from the train station.

We do not discriminate against any employee or candidate because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other protected characteristic.