Program Manager

Modal Motors; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Modal Motors, Inc. is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead multiple client programs, owning planning, schedules, budgets, risk management, and client communication from requirements definition through development and production readiness.

You will collaborate with engineering, suppliers, and leadership to turn client commitments into achievable plans and ensure on-time delivery across projects. Five+ years of PM experience and electromechanical experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of program management experience.
• Experience managing multiple client programs simultaneously.
• Proven record of leading programs involving electromechanical assemblies through prototype builds, testing, and validation.
• Strong command of scope definition, scheduling, critical path analysis, resource planning, budgeting, risk management, and change control.
• Experience owning client relationships and aligning expectations with technical and commercial constraints.
• Technical fluency to discuss mechanical and electrical interfaces with engineering teams.
• Proficiency with project scheduling and tracking tools, spreadsheets, and concise program reporting.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple client programs concurrently, balancing priorities and resources across the portfolio.
• Translate requirements into scope, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and integrated schedules.
• Maintain project plans, dependencies, and milestones; assign action owners and drive completion.
• Serve as primary program contact for clients; lead meetings and discuss risks and changes.
• Coordinate mechanical, electromagnetic, electrical, controls, manufacturing, and test activities from design reviews through validation.
• Track budgets, forecast costs, and develop corrective actions with leadership.
• Maintain risk and issue registers; establish mitigation plans and elevate decisions.
• Control scope and engineering changes; update plans and commitments.
• Coordinate supplier deliverables and build readiness with engineering and purchasing.
• Report status and resource conflicts; support proposals and closeouts.

Skills

Program management

Client relationships

Scheduling

Budgeting

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Change control

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Spreadsheets

Project scheduling tools

Job description

Salary: Depending on experience and directly relevant qualifications

Modal Motors does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, staffing agencies, or other third parties. Please, no agency calls, submissions, emails or otreach.

Bring your experience somewhere it can shape what comes next. Modal Motors is turning advanced electric motor technology into programs clients can count on. As Program Manager, you will own the plan, the schedule, and the client relationship across multiple programs, working directly with engineering and leadership.

Help build the organization, not just operate within it.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Modal Motors, Inc. is an advanced electric motor technology startup developing next-generation, high-efficiency Transverse Flux motor systems for mobility, robotics, and industrial applications. Our engineering team combines advanced modeling, rapid prototyping, and hands-on testing to solve complex electromechanical challenges.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead multiple client programs simultaneously, coordinating the individual projects and shared resources needed to deliver each program. You will own program planning, schedules, budgets, risk management, and client communication from requirements definition through development, validation, and production readiness.

The ideal candidate has at least five years of program management experience, strong project management expertise, and a demonstrated record of delivering programs involving electromechanical assemblies. You will work closely with engineering, suppliers, and company leadership to turn client commitments into achievable plans and keep delivery on track.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage multiple client programs concurrently, balancing priorities, shared engineering resources, supplier capacity, and commitments across the portfolio.
• Translate client requirements and statements of work into defined scope, deliverables, acceptance criteria, work breakdown structures, and integrated schedules.
• Maintain project plans, dependencies, critical paths, and resource forecasts; assign action owners and drive completion of milestones.
• Serve as the primary program contact for clients, leading kickoff meetings, progress reviews, and discussions of risks, changes, and delivery expectations.
• Coordinate mechanical, electromagnetic, electrical, controls, manufacturing, and test activities from design reviews through prototype builds and validation.
• Track budgets, actual spending, and forecast costs to complete; identify variances early and develop corrective actions with leadership.
• Maintain risk and issue registers, establish mitigation plans, and elevate decisions that affect cost, schedule, quality, or technical performance.
• Control scope and engineering changes by assessing impacts, securing required approvals, and updating plans and client commitments.
• Coordinate supplier deliverables, long-lead components, tooling, and build readiness with engineering and purchasing stakeholders.
• Report program status and resource conflicts clearly; support proposals and estimates, confirm client acceptance, and capture lessons learned at closeout.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 5 years of experience in a Program Manager role or an equivalent role with direct accountability for both program and project management.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple client programs simultaneously, including competing priorities and shared technical resources.
• A proven record of leading programs involving electromechanical assemblies through key development stages, including prototype builds, testing, and validation.
• Strong command of scope definition, scheduling, critical path analysis, resource planning, budgeting, risk management, and change control.
• Experience owning client relationships, communicating difficult issues early, and aligning expectations with technical and commercial constraints.
• Technical fluency sufficient to discuss mechanical and electrical interfaces, engineering drawings, bills of materials, manufacturing constraints, and test results with engineering teams.
• Proficiency with project scheduling and tracking tools, spreadsheets, and concise program reporting; ability to establish practical processes as needs evolve.
• Strong organizational judgment, clear written and verbal communication, and the ability to hold teams accountable across functions without direct reporting authority.
• Must be a US Citizen.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with electric motors, actuators, robotics, mobility products, or industrial electromechanical equipment.
• Experience transitioning prototypes into production, including supplier coordination, design release, and manufacturing readiness.
• PMP, PgMP, or comparable program or project management certification.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience is also valued.
• Experience in a startup or growing engineering company, with the ability to introduce useful structure while adapting to changing priorities.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Clients and internal teams have a clear view of commitments and progress. Program plans reflect actual resource capacity, risks are addressed before they disrupt delivery, and changes are approved and documented. Milestones meet agreed acceptance criteria, with costs and schedule forecasts kept current across all active programs.

Modal Motors provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, contact [e-mail].

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Modal Motors, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, height, weight, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.