Product Development Project Manager

Jobtailor; Marshalltown (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced Engineering Project Manager to lead product development efforts from initiation through closure. You will drive cross-functional teams spanning Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Quality to deliver on schedule and within scope.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in engineering project leadership, strong planning and communication skills, and a Bachelor’s in Engineering. PMP or equivalent certification is preferred and supported.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of engineering experience with leading tasks/workstreams in product development.
• Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Clear concise communication abilities and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to pursue PMP or similar certification (support provided).

Responsibilities

• Lead projects through all NPD phases from initiation to closure.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risks, and logs.
• Prepare and present at each gate meeting.
• Form and lead cross-functional teams across Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, and more.
• Track progress against constraints and escalate risks when needed.
• Communicate with stakeholders from executives to project teams; bridge tech and business.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Planning & organization

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

PMP or equivalent certification

Job description

• Project Planning & Execution
• Lead projects through all NPD phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closure
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risk registers, decision logs, and communication plans
• Prepare and present project at each gate meeting

• Cross–Functional Leadership
• Form and lead cross‑functional project teams spanning Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations
• Leverage your engineering background to challenge assumptions, ask the right questions, and keep teams honest on feasibility
• Drive accountability across teams

• Execution Management
• Identify issues early and drive resolution – you won’t just flag problems, you’ll help solve them
• Track progress against schedule, cost, and scope targets
• Escalate risks and decisions impacting scope, cost, or timeline to the Steering Group

• Stakeholder Management & Communication
• Build strong partnerships with Product Managers, Engineering leadership, Gatekeepers, and business stakeholders
• Communicate clearly at all levels – from executive summaries for senior leadership to detailed updates for project teams
• Drive alignment on decisions, trade‑offs, and scope changes across the organization
• Serve as the bridge between deep technical work and business strategy

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or relevant work experience
• 5+ years of engineering experience, including leading significant tasks or workstreams within product development projects
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills
• Strong clear and concise communication skills
• Superior problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills
• Self‑motivated and proactive with ability to navigate ambiguity
• Willingness to attain a PMP or similar project management certification – we’ll support you in getting it
• 5+ years of project management experience on technical projects (preferred)
• Hands‑on experience with embedded systems, electronics, or firmware development (preferred)
• Familiarity with Agile or hybrid development approaches (preferred)
• Background in industrial products or regulated environments (preferred)
• PMP® or similar project management certification (preferred)

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in project planning and execution, with a strong focus on cross‑functional leadership and stakeholder management. Proficient in driving accountability and problem‑solving within technical project environments, leveraging engineering knowledge to align business strategy with project goals.