Battery & EV Systems Program Manager

Actalent; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Ann Arbor, MI is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead multiple concurrent cell and battery product-development programs from early development through validation and manufacturing readiness. You will drive phase gates, deliverables, budgets, risks, and schedules with cross-functional teams.

This role requires collaboration with mechanical, chemical, electrical, manufacturing, and quality groups and the use of project-management tools to ensure alignment to timing and

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in technical program management or related environment.
• Experience developing physical engineered products or hardware.
• Experience driving programs through phase gates, milestones, and deliverables.
• Ability to work with engineers and understand technical requirements and validation data.
• Ownership of program timing, scope, deliverables, risks, and cross-functional execution.
• Experience coordinating multiple engineering disciplines and holding stakeholders accountable.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple concurrent engineering and product-development programs from early development through validation and manufacturing readiness.
• Own and drive program timing, milestones, phase gates, technical deliverables, budget considerations, risks, dependencies, and cross-functional actions.
• Partner with engineering teams to establish requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and schedules.
• Drive phase-gate reviews and ensure readiness to advance to the next stage.
• Coordinate design reviews, validation activities, DFMEA/PFMEA discussions, risk reviews, and checkpoints.
• Maintain accountability across engineering and functional teams with clear owners and due dates.
• Identify risks early and facilitate cross-functional problem solving with mitigation plans.
• Lead or support structured problem solving (8D, root-cause, containment, corrective actions).
• Support prototype builds, testing, design validation, design changes, and manufacturing readiness.
• Review data and changes to assess impact on timing, cost, performance, and manufacturing.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing to evaluate manufacturability and DFMA considerations.
• Support scope/change management with design-change implications.
• Build and maintain program-management processes, dashboards, risk registers, and schedules.

Skills

Program management

Technical program management

Cross-functional leadership

Phase-gate management

Risk management

8D / root cause analysis

DFMA / DFMEA understanding

MS Project / Smartsheet

Manufacturing readiness

Hardware development

Battery/EV knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Actalent in Ann Arbor, MI is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead multiple concurrent cell and battery product-development programs from early development through validation and manufacturing readiness. You will drive phase gates, deliverables, budgets, risks, and schedules with cross-functional teams.

This role requires collaboration with mechanical, chemical, electrical, manufacturing, and quality groups and the use of project-management tools to ensure alignment to timing and