Technical Program Lead, 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

## Technical Program Lead, ManufacturingApply: Non-Campus Other: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: October 6, 2026 (10 days left to apply): R109362**Department:****Location:**Non-Campus Other**Time Type:**Full time**Worker Type:**Regular**Job Req ID:**R109362**Minimum Requirements:**Bachelor's degree in a related field and four (4) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Grade 10 (Salaried).**Position Description:**The University of Louisville is seeking to hire a Technical Program Lead, Manufacturing, with a specialty in advanced manufacturing, will simplify pathways for innovative companies, and talent, to engage with the Department of War (DoW), driving faster commercialization, scalable production, and ensuring warfighter-relevant technologies reach the field at speed and scale. This role combines deep technical expertise in advanced manufacturing, engineering project management, business acumen, and relationship-building to strengthen the national defense innovation ecosystem. This is a grant funded position with funding through August 15, 2027. Continued employment is contingent upon availability of funds.This position supports defense‐related projects funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant. An offer of employment is contingent upon the selected candidate being eligible for and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher) and any necessary export control licenses to perform the job functions.**Key Responsibilities*** Provide personalized 1-on-1 education, coaching, and guidance to founders, researchers, and corporate teams on product development with specialized emphasis on advanced manufacturing techniques, scalability, and production readiness.* Perform in-depth assessments of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) to evaluate technologies, identify gaps, and support advancement toward higher maturity levels suitable for DoW adoption—particularly in advanced manufacturing contexts such as additive processes, automation integration, and supply chain resilience.* Proactively identify, recruit, onboard, and coach high-potential manufacturing and technology companies into DIU programs, including tech showcases, demonstrations, collaborative events, and acceleration initiatives that highlight defense-relevant innovations.* Design and lead interactive workshops, training sessions, and events covering government contracting fundamentals, proposal development, intellectual property strategies in defense contexts, and best practices for aligning commercial solutions with warfighter needs.* Facilitate strategic connections between commercial innovators (with a focus on advanced manufacturing providers) and DoW stakeholders (program offices, end-users, and acquisition professionals) to align emerging technologies with operational requirements and build a collaborative innovation ecosystem.* Manage and oversee engineering projects related to technology maturation, prototype development, prototyping, and engineering support to companies and innovators, ensuring timely milestones, risk mitigation, resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination.* Track participant progress, technology maturation, program outcomes, and key metrics; collect and analyze data to generate reports and demonstrate a measurable impact on defense innovation (per relevant Statement of Work requirements).**Preferred Qualifications*** Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field; advanced degree (Master's/PhD) strongly preferred.* 5+ years of hands-on experience in **advanced manufacturing** (e.g., additive manufacturing, digital engineering, automation, robotics in production, or related innovative processes), ideally in dual-use, defense, aerospace, or national security contexts.* Proven expertise in **managing engineering projects**, including planning, execution, budgeting, risk management, and delivery of technical prototypes or production-scale efforts (PMP certification or equivalent experience a plus).* Strong understanding of DoW acquisition processes, SBIR/STTR programs, Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), or similar mechanisms for engaging non-traditional vendors.* In-depth knowledge of Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL), and related maturity frameworks, **particularly applied to advanced manufacturing technologies**.* Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills for workshops, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.* Self-starter with strong project management skills and comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.This is an in-person position.**Target Compensation Maximum:**$130,488.00**Target Compensation Minimum:**$86,992.00**Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.**