Sr. Program Manager- New Product Introduction

Itron, Inc.; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

401k matching

Employee stock purchase program

Paid vacation

15% annual bonus program

Job summary

Itron, Inc. is seeking a Sr. Program Manager– New Product Introduction to lead operational excellence for hardware programs from concept through production, including pilot builds and factory transfer.

You will coordinate with manufacturing engineering, procurement, logistics, supply chain, EMS partners, product management, and R&D. The role requires driving Kaizen, Lean, and Agile initiatives, presenting status and risks to executives, and ensuring readiness of industrialization milestones

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent practical engineering experience.
• Proven program management experience in hardware or manufacturing environments.
• Strong technical knowledge of PCBAs, semiconductor components, and box-build assemblies.
• Experience with Kaizen, Scrum, Lean, and continuous improvement practices.
• Proficiency with program management and PLM/ERP tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Oracle).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced and high visibility environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI programs from initiation through delivery, ensuring readiness and quality.
• Collaborate with Product, R&D, Marketing, Global Operations, and external EMS/contract manufacturers.
• Maintain program status, schedules, and risks; deliver portfolio-level reporting to leadership.
• Apply Kaizen, Lean, and Agile methodologies to optimize processes and efficiency.
• Provide technical oversight with hands-on engineering experience in mechanical, electrical, or industrial domains.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to maintain progress.
• Communicate updates to stakeholders through reports and meetings.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder communication

Lean/Kaizen

Agile/Scrum

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering

PMP certification

Master's degree

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Jira

Oracle

Job description

Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.

As a Sr. Program Manager– New Product Introduction, you will lead operational excellence for new product introduction initiatives, ensuring successful delivery of hardware programs from concept through production, including pilot builds, industrialization, and manufacturing process transfer. This role is critical to driving collaboration across manufacturing engineering, procurement, logistics, supply chain, EMS/contract manufacturing partners, product management, and R&D. You will operate in a dynamic, fast-paced environment at the forefront of innovative grid management solutions. This is a high impact role. The selected candidate must be comfortable presenting program status, risks, and recommendations directly to senior executive stakeholders in a clear, concise, and fact-based manner.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Manage NPI programs from initiation through delivery, ensuring operational readiness and quality outcomes, including pilot builds, process validation, and industrialization milestones.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with various teams within the company, including Product Business Units, Research & Development, Product Marketing, Global Operations: procurement, logistics, manufacturing, and quality control, Finance, and external EMS/contract manufacturing partners to implement resiliency measures and foster a culture of preparedness.
• Program Governance & Reporting: Maintain program status, schedules, and risks within the PMO governance framework; deliver regular portfolio-level reporting to leadership.
• Continuous Improvement: Apply Kaizen, Lean, and Agile methodologies to optimize processes and enhance efficiency.
• Technical Oversight: Provide guidance leveraging hands-on engineering experience in mechanical, electrical, or industrial domains.
• Risk Management: Identify program risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies to ensure uninterrupted progress.
• Communication: Deliver timely and relevant updates to stakeholders through reports and meetings, fostering transparency and accountability.
• Customer-Centric Focus: Ensure all program activities align with organizational values and customer expectations.
• Supplier Coordination: Partner with Global Commodity Managers and key suppliers to support contingency planning, dual sourcing strategies, and alternative supply routes.
• Data Analysis: Utilize data analytics and technology to monitor and evaluate the performance of the supply chain. Implement data-driven solutions to improve resiliency and responsiveness.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering OR equivalent practical engineering experience.
• Proven program management experience in hardware or manufacturing environments.
• Strong technical knowledge of PCBAs, semiconductor components, and box-build assemblies.
• Experience with Kaizen, Scrum, Lean, and continuous improvement practices.
• Proficiency with program management and PLM/ERP tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Oracle).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced and high visibility environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• PMP certification or equivalent project management credential.
• Master's degree a plus.
• Experience working with EMS/contract manufacturing partners.

Travel: 0-10%

Physical Demands

This is a typical office job, with no special physical requirements or unusual work environment.

Candidate must be close to one of the following Itron sites:

• Austin, TX
• Raleigh, NC
• Oconee, SC

Benefits Info

This position also includes a competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs, paid vacation, 401k matching, employee stock purchase program, hybrid work schedule, and more! This position is eligible for our 15% annual bonus program.

Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees. If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for!

The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.

Itron is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact a recruiting representative at 1-800-635-5461 or email [e-mail].

Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com