Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to support advanced cell and battery product-development programs. This role is integral to driving engineering programs through defined phase gates, technical deliverables, validation activities, and manufacturing-readiness milestones. The Program Manager will collaborate closely with mechanical, chemical, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and other engineering stakeholders to ensure programs remain aligned to timing, budget, scope, technical requirements, and deliverables.
Responsibilities
- Lead multiple concurrent engineering and product-development programs from early development through validation and manufacturing readiness.
- Own and drive program timing, milestones, phase gates, technical deliverables, budget considerations, risks, dependencies, and cross-functional actions.
- Partner directly with engineering teams to establish program requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and development schedules.
- Drive defined phase-gate reviews, ensuring engineering deliverables are completed and programs are prepared to advance to the next stage.
- Coordinate technical design reviews, validation activities, DFMEA/PFMEA discussions, risk reviews, and cross-functional engineering checkpoints.
- Maintain accountability across engineering and functional teams by establishing clear owners, due dates, and measurable outcomes.
- Identify program risks and technical roadblocks early and facilitate cross-functional problem solving to develop mitigation plans.
- Lead or support structured problem solving, including 8D, root-cause analysis, containment, and corrective-action activities.
- Support product-development activities across prototype builds, testing, design validation, design changes, and manufacturing readiness.
- Review engineering data, test results, and design changes to understand potential impacts to program timing, cost, performance, and downstream manufacturing.
- Partner with design and manufacturing teams to evaluate manufacturability and support Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
- Support scope and change management by understanding the technical and program implications of proposed design changes.
- Build and maintain program-management processes, tools, dashboards, risk registers, schedules, and tracking methodologies in an evolving R&D environment.
- Utilize tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, and Microsoft Office to manage program execution and provide visibility to stakeholders.
- Communicate program status, risks, priorities, and key decisions clearly across engineering, operations, manufacturing, and leadership teams.
- Build strong working relationships across technical teams while being comfortable challenging stakeholders and holding teams accountable to commitments.
Essential Skills
- 6+ years of experience in technical program management, project management, product development, engineering, or a closely related environment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting the development of physical engineered products or hardware.
- Experience driving programs through structured development phases, phase gates, milestones, and technical deliverables.
- Proven ability to work directly with engineers and understand technical requirements, engineering documentation, test/validation data, development risks, and technical dependencies.
- Demonstrated ownership of program timing, scope, deliverables, risks, and cross-functional execution.
- Experience coordinating multiple engineering disciplines and holding technical stakeholders accountable while maintaining productive working relationships.
- Experience supporting product development, design validation, testing, prototype development, manufacturing readiness, or production launch.
- Familiarity with structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, root-cause analysis, or equivalent engineering problem-solving processes.
- Ability to operate effectively in an evolving development environment where processes may still be built, refined, and standardized as programs progress.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience within lithium-ion batteries, battery cells, electrochemical systems, EV technology, energy storage, electronics, or related hardware.
- Engineering or other relevant technical degree.
- Automotive or similarly structured product-development experience.
- Experience with APQP, phase-gate development, DFMA, DFMEA/PFMEA, validation, and manufacturing launch.
- Experience using Microsoft Project and/or Smartsheet.
Work Environment
This is a cross-functional role within a collaborative and technically driven team environment. The position requires familiarity with both office and manufacturing settings, utilizing tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, and Microsoft Office for effective program management. The work environment encourages innovation, problem-solving, and accountability in an evolving R&D landscape.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Ann Arbor, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $55.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Ann Arbor, MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Ann Arbor,MI. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
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shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
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and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
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