Research Program Manager, Sensors

HRL Laboratories, LLC; Malibu (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) match

Gym facilities

PTO and holidays

Job summary

HRL Laboratories, LLC is seeking a seasoned Program Manager to lead government contracts, manage multidisciplinary engineering teams, and ensure cost, schedule, and technical performance. The role emphasizes early‑ to mid‑stage R&D within aerospace/semiconductor contexts.

You will baseline and maintain integrated plans, manage risks, and coordinate with customers and government stakeholders. A strong background in MEMS and EVM is highly valued.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in a science or engineering field.
• 5+ years of program management experience, incl. government funded contracts.
• Experience with contracting, sub-contracting, supplier management, finance, purchasing, and legal.
• Ability to re-plan projects and communicate changes as constraints shift.
• Technical background in science/engineering; MEMS familiarity is desirable.
• Costing and scheduling: IMS, critical path, EV analysis, MIS presentations.
• Expertise in MS Project or equivalent.
• Strong interpersonal skills bridging technical and business.
• Excellent oral and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop, baseline, and maintain integrated program plans (scope/WBS, IMS, budgets/EVM).
• Identify and manage program risks and opportunities; escalate to leadership.
• Oversee planning, reporting, CAM responsibilities, variances, and EACs.
• Manage suppliers/subcontractors; track deliverables and resolution of issues.
• Prepare and present program status, risks, and execution updates to stakeholders.
• Drive proposal development, BOE generation, and pricing; support capture.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, AS9100, and HRL policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Program management

Risk management

Education

BS/MS/PhD in science or engineering

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

Position Summary:

This role provides end-to-end accountability for cost, schedule, and contractual compliance during execution of government technical programs. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in government contracting, development-to-production transitions, and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced aerospace/semiconductor environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, baseline, and maintain integrated program plans including scope/WBS, IMS schedules, budgets/EVM baselines, staffing profiles, and key deliverable milestones; manage change control.
• Identify, assess, and actively manage program risks and opportunities using formal registers, burn-downs, and mitigation/exploitation plans; ensure early visibility to leadership and customers.
• Oversee planning and reporting; perform CAM responsibilities, analyze variances and EACs, and drive corrective actions.
• Manage key suppliers/subcontractors: flow down requirements, track deliverables, perform surveillance, and resolve issues impacting cost/schedule/technical performance.
• Prepare and present program status, risks, and execution updates to senior management, customers, and government stakeholders; ensure transparent communication and data integrity.
• Drive proposal development, BOE generation, and pricing; support capture and business development activities; identify follow‑on and adjacent growth opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR export controls, AS9100 quality requirements, and HRL corporate policies.

Required Qualifications:

• BS, MS, or PhD in a science or engineering field
• 5+ years of program management, ideally with an emphasis on early to mid‑stage research and development (R&D) and government funded contract research and development projects
• Experience with program execution: including but not limited to contracting, sub‑contracting, supplier management, finance, purchasing, and legal
• Ability to dynamically re‑plan projects and communicate changes as new information and results are acquired and resulting from changes to constraints in resources including staffing, procurements, and financials
• A broad technical background in the fundamental aspects of science and engineering is required. Technical familiarity with microfabrication process flows for electronic components including MEMS is highly desirable
• Costing and scheduling skills include the ability to produce and maintain a networked and resourced master integrated schedule (IMS), critical path analysis, earned value analysis, and presentation of MIS to customers and leadership
• Expertise in MS Project or equivalent, MS office suite
• Effective interpersonal skills to bridge the gap between technical and business functions
• Excellent oral and written communication, interaction with vendors/colleagues and willingness to work in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment

Special Requirements:

U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $154,500 - $197,900
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy