Lead Program Manager - Custom Machinery

Calqulate Metrics Ltd; Addison (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Calqulate Metrics Ltd is seeking an experienced Program Manager to own complex, engineered-to-order manufacturing programs in Addison, IL. This onsite role partners daily with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to deliver programs from concept through production and customer implementation.

You will manage schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables, lead program reviews with customers, and drive improvements in gate processes.

Qualifications

• Experience owning engineered-to-order or custom machine builds from PO through factory acceptance test and delivery.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or another technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing project management experience overall.
• Minimum 2 years in a full lifecycle Program Manager role, owning programs from concept through customer delivery.
• Stage-Gate or comparable phased-gate new product development experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and how Engineering and Operations interact.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional technical programs.
• Direct customer-facing experience, including leading program reviews and managing customer expectations through change and risk.
• Proven command of program schedules, budgets, resources, risk, and deliverables.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Project or comparable program management tools.

Responsibilities

• Own complex manufacturing and engineered-equipment programs from concept through production, delivery, and customer implementation.
• Serve as the primary program contact for the customer, managing expectations, communicating status and risk, and leading program reviews.
• Build and manage program schedules, budgets, milestones, resources, and deliverables, and make the tradeoff decisions required to protect commitments.
• Drive alignment across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Quality, holding functional partners accountable to program dates.
• Identify program risks early, remove roadblocks, and drive corrective action before schedule impact occurs.
• Manage multiple concurrent programs and deliver clear, direct status reporting to executive leadership.
• Lead new product development activity through a Stage-Gate or comparable phased-gate process.
• Own the transition of engineered products and equipment from design into manufacturing.
• Work on the plant floor alongside engineering and production teams. This is a hands-on role, not a role managed from a schedule.
• Ensure customer requirements, technical specifications, quality standards, and delivery commitments are met.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, communication, and project management practice.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Customer-facing communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or another technical discipline

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Calqulate Metrics Ltd is seeking an experienced Program Manager to own complex, engineered-to-order manufacturing programs in Addison, IL. This onsite role partners daily with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to deliver programs from concept through production and customer implementation.

You will manage schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables, lead program reviews with customers, and drive improvements in gate processes.