Project Manager

• Business: Oxford Instruments: X-Ray Technology
• Location: Scotts Valley, California.
• Reports to: Engineering Director
• Job Title: Project Manager
• Primary Purpose: We are looking for a Project Manager to join our Engineering team. In this role, you will lead the development and delivery of new products from planning through to successful launch and first customer deliveries.
• You will own Project Management at Oxford Instruments X-Ray Technology, ensuring a disciplined, consistent, and effective cross-functional approach that drives alignment, accountability, and predictable delivery outcomes.
• This role is ideal if...
• You have a proven track record of delivering complex product development projects in a high‑tech environment, coordinating across multiple cross‑functional teams
• You are experienced in delivering products incorporating both hardware and software, including new or evolving technologies
• You are comfortable working in structured development environments (stage-gate, Agile, or hybrid), and have successfully applied these frameworks in practice
• You have strong experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or equivalent, and understand how to use them to drive execution, not just reporting
• You are confident leading teams through ambiguity, holding stakeholders accountable, and ensuring commitments are met
• You are able to balance involvement in projects without displacing ownership from technical leads
• You have formal project management training or equivalent experience, a degree in Physics, Engineering or a related discipline would be advantageous.
• What your role will look like...

Project Management (PM) Leadership and Execution

• Own, implement, and continuously operate the PM framework, including governance, reporting, and project cadence
• Ensure PM processes are consistently applied and adopted across engineering and cross-functional teams
• Translate frameworks and plans into sustained, operational practices that improve delivery outcomes

Project Delivery and Alignment

• Drive alignment of deliverables, ownership, and timelines across all stakeholders
• Ensure projects progress with clear accountability, predictable execution, and timely recovery when deviations occur
• Identify and address misalignment early to minimize downstream impact

Governance

• Establish and maintain a consistent project governance cadence (e.g., weekly or biweekly meetings)
• Ensure all meetings have clear agendas, documented actions, defined owners, and due dates
• Track actions to closure and ensure meetings drive decisions, alignment, and issue resolution

Leadership, Delegation, and Accountability

• Lead through others by clearly assigning ownership and holding individuals accountable for delivery
• Build capability across the team through coaching and mentorship
• Maintain focus on leadership and oversight rather than direct execution

Risk, Issue, and Escalation Management

• Proactively identify and manage risks and issues
• Escalate concerns early with clear mitigation plans
• Maintain transparent and accurate communication of project health
• Planning, Tracking, and Reporting
• Maintain accurate, realistic project plans and timelines
• Ensure reporting provides actionable insight and drives decision‑making
• Use tools effectively to support execution and accountability

Required Education, Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex projects across multi-functional teams in a high-tech, engineering, manufacturing, or product development environment.
• Experience delivering projects involving hardware and software products through the full product development lifecycle.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Monday.com, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of project management tools, issue tracking systems, project governance, and status reporting.
• Understanding of stage-gate project oversight processes and project governance methodologies.

Ideal

• Degree in Physics, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Formal project management training, certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent), or comparable practical experience.
• Experience introducing or improving project management frameworks, governance processes, and delivery practices within an engineering organization

Compensation

In accordance with California law, the expected salary for this full-time, benefited position is between $120,000 - $130,000. The actual compensation will be determined considering factors such as relevant skills and experience and other factors permitted by law.

#LI-NS1