Program Manager

POET Technologies; Penang; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

POET Technologies Inc. in Penang, Malaysia seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead end-to-end R&D programs from concept to commercialization. You will manage cross-functional teams across engineering, design, QA, procurement, regulatory and manufacturing, ensuring milestones and regulatory checkpoints are met.

The role requires 5+ years in semiconductor PM or product development, strong stakeholder engagement, and proficiency with Waterfall and agile methods. PMP is desirable.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years in program management within semiconductor R&D or product development.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, risk management and governance.
• Strong Waterfall knowledge; Agile, Scrum, or hybrid familiarity.
• Proficient with program/project tools (MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet).
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-cultural communication.
• Ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders and work cross-functionally.
• Familiarity with design controls, risk management and quality assurance in regulated industries (ISO, FDA, CE).
• PMP certification desirable.
• Knowledge of hardware/software co-development lifecycle and NPI processes.
• Detail-oriented with systems-thinking.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program execution with hybrid or Agile practices where applicable.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, design, QA, procurement, regulatory and manufacturing.
• Define scope, objectives, timelines and deliverables aligned with product strategy.
• Develop and manage project schedule, Gantt charts, resources and budgets.
• Ensure design reviews, milestones and regulatory checkpoints are met.
• Identify risks and mitigation plans; escalate issues to avoid delays.
• Lead program reviews and updates to senior management.
• Ensure documentation compliance with design controls and quality systems.
• Champion phase-gate processes and continuous improvement in PM practices.
• Facilitate communication among global teams, vendors and partners.
• Manage process and product transfer from NPD to Manufacturing.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Governance

Cross-functional leadership

Agile familiarity

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Confluence

Smartsheet

Job description

The incumbent will lead and drive cross-functional R&D programs from concept through to commercialization. This role will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of complex product development using hybrid methodologies, ensuring alignment with business goals and compliance standards, and engineering milestones. The ideal candidate must have strong background in program management within technical environments, in R&D intensive industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage end to end program execution with exposure to hybrid or Agile practices where applicable
• Drive Cross-Functional coordination across engineering, design, QA, procurement, regulatory and manufacturing teams
• Define program scope, objectives timelines, and deliverables in alignment with product and business strategies
• Develop and manage program schedule, Gantt Charts, resource plans and budgets
• Ensure timely completion of design reviews, technical milestones, and regulatory compliance checkpoints
• Proactively identify risks and mitigation plans and elevate issues when necessary to avoid delays
• Lead regular program reviews and provide updates to senior management and stakeholders
• Ensure documentation compliance with design controls and quality systems
• Champion phase-gate processes and continuous improvement in project management practices
• Facilitate communication among global teams, vendors, and external partners
• Manage process and product transfer from NPD to Manufacturing
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management

Qualification

• Possess at least degree in engineering or related technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in program management within Semiconductor R&D or product development environment
• Experience applying best practices in areas such as stakeholder engagement, risk management, and governances
• Strong command of Waterfall methodology, familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or hybrid models is a plus.
• Proficiency with program/ project management tools (eg, MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet).
• Excellent skills in stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication.
• Ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and work cross-functionally.
• Ability to navigate challenges, make decisions, and adapt plans as needed
• Experience with design control, risk management and quality assurance processes, especially in regulated industries (eg, ISO, FDA, CE).
• Certification such as PMP is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with hardware/software co-development lifecycle and new product introduction (NPI) processes.
• Detail-oriented with a systems-thinking approach.
• Comfortable working in fast paced, innovative R&D settings.