R&D Senior/Principal Project Manager - New Product Development

NI Malaysia Sdn Bhd; Penang; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Penang, Malaysia, is seeking a highly motivated Senior/Principal Project Manager to lead new product development initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management skills, a background in engineering, and at least 8 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams, managing project scope and budget, and ensuring successful delivery of products. Applicants should be Malaysian citizens or have the ability to secure a work permit.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or 5 years with a Master's degree.
• Proven success in managing technical projects, meeting deadlines, and controlling budgets.
• Experience working in a matrix organization and collaborating across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Define and manage project scope, timelines, resources, and costs.
• Facilitate technical trade-offs to meet project goals.
• Identify and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide clear communication to stakeholders regarding project status and risks.
• Guide and coach engineers for project success.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Agile methodologies

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Project

Azure DevOps

Job description

R&D Senior/Principal Project Manager - New Product Development

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The NI R&D organization in Penang, Malaysia is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior/Principal Project Manager to lead new product development initiatives. As part of a global team, you will be responsible for driving cross‑functional project execution, managing scope, schedule, and budget, and ensuring successful delivery of innovative products. You will play a key role in aligning technical decisions with business goals, mentoring team members, and fostering collaboration across international sites.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in engineering, proven project management experience, and a passion for leading teams to deliver impactful results. Experience in hardware or software development and familiarity with Agile methodologies are highly desirable.

In This Role, Your Responsibilities Will Be:

• Lead cross‑functional teams across global sites to deliver new product development projects on time and within budget.
• Define and manage project scope, timelines, resources, and costs, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Facilitate technical trade‑offs and decision‑making processes to meet project goals.
• Identify and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring proactive issue resolution.
• Provide clear and consistent communication to stakeholders regarding project status, risks, and changes.
• Collaborate with Discipline Managers to identify talent gaps and recommend team adjustments.
• Guide and coach engineers to foster professional growth and ensure project success.
• Conduct and lead project meetings to maintain alignment and momentum across teams.
• Remove obstacles and drive continuous progress throughout the development cycle.
• Apply hybrid project management methodologies (Waterfall + Agile) for hardware projects and Agile/Scrum for software projects.

Who You Are:

You are a strategic thinker and effective communicator who thrives in dynamic environments. You take initiative, solve problems proactively, and lead with confidence and empathy. You are passionate about delivering high‑quality products and empowering teams to succeed.

For This Role, You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or 5 years with a Master’s degree.
• Proven success in managing technical projects, meeting deadlines, and controlling budgets.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing conditions.
• Experience working in a matrix organization and collaborating across functions.

Preferred Qualifications That Set You Apart:

• At least 2 years of hands‑on product development experience (hardware, firmware, or driver software).
• Familiarity with project management tools such as MS Project and Azure DevOps.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management credentials.
• Understanding of measurement and automated testing industries is a plus.

Passionate engineers looking to transition into project management are encouraged to apply.

Please Note:

Malaysian citizenship, Permanent Residency, or ability to secure the appropriate work permit is required to work in this position at NI Penang.

US Customs Law forbids the export of certain technologies to certain countries. Due to licensing requirements which National Instruments does not presently pursue for this position, this regulation effectively prevents National Instruments from hiring candidates for this job (as it would require access to such technology) whose current country of citizenship or permanent residence are Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, Iran and Syria.