Robotics Program Manager — Cross-Functional & Impact Driver

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition benefits

Retirement savings program

Paid time off and holidays

Bus pass

Job summary

National Robotics Engineering Center at Carnegie Mellon University seeks a dynamic Project Manager to lead cross-functional teams in taking autonomous systems from concept to production and deployment. You will align hardware and software efforts across mechanical, electrical, ROS/ROS 2, and autonomy disciplines, ensuring schedules, budgets, and sponsor milestones are met.

The role requires a Master’s degree and 5+ years in robotics project management, with strong communication and leadership

Qualifications

Master’s degree required in science, engineering, or related field.
5+ years of project management experience in robotics, autonomous systems, mechatronics, aerospace, or automotive sectors.
Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams (hardware, software, systems integration).
Hands-on experience with fast software releases and long-lead hardware development cycles.
Proficiency with Jira, Confluence, Asana, MS Project and CAD/hardware visualization tools.
DoD or government-sponsored research project experience is desirable but not required.
Excellent problem-solving, organization, planning, teamwork, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary operational contact for sponsors, translating requirements into WBS and milestones.
Manage end-to-end program lifecycle from scoping to hardware/software integration and field deployment.
Coordinate cross-functional teams across mechanical, electrical, software (ROS/ROS 2, perception, autonomy) and system safety disciplines.
Develop detailed project schedules, milestones, resource allocations, and long-lead hardware procurement plans.
Balance stage-gate controls with rapid iterative software/hardware development methods.
Prepare and present progress reports, design reviews, and milestone demonstrations to leadership and sponsors.
Perform risk assessments, mitigation plans, and ensure field safety compliance.
Manage project budgets, scope changes, and resource utilization; lead proposal efforts and SOW drafting.