Senior Technical Program Lead - Advanced Manufacturing

University of Louisville; Louisville (KY); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Louisville is seeking a Technical Program Lead, Manufacturing, to advance advanced manufacturing efforts and enable DoD collaborations. You will guide technology maturation, coordinate industry and academic partners, and drive rapid deployment of warfighter-relevant innovations.

The role requires strong program management, TRL/MRL expertise, and the ability to lead workshops and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, grant-funded environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with advanced manufacturing, automation, or robotics is preferred.
• Experience managing engineering projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, SBIR/STTR, OTAs, or similar programs.
• Understanding TRL/MRL frameworks and applying them to manufacturing tech.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1-on-1 coaching to founders and teams on product development with focus on advanced manufacturing.
• Assess TRL/MRL to identify gaps and guide maturity toward DoW adoption.
• Recruit, onboard, and coach high-potential manufacturers into program pipelines.
• Design and lead workshops on government contracting, IP, and aligning with warfighter needs.
• Facilitate connections between innovators and DoW stakeholders for collaboration.
• Manage engineering projects, milestones, budgets, risks, and cross-functional work.
• Track progress and report outcomes to demonstrate impact on defense readiness.

Skills

Advanced manufacturing

Project management

DoD acquisition

TRL/MRL knowledge

Communication skills

PMP certification

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/electrical engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

The University of Louisville is seeking a Technical Program Lead, Manufacturing, to advance advanced manufacturing efforts and enable DoD collaborations. You will guide technology maturation, coordinate industry and academic partners, and drive rapid deployment of warfighter-relevant innovations.

The role requires strong program management, TRL/MRL expertise, and the ability to lead workshops and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, grant-funded environment.