Research Program Manager, Sensors

About the role

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers - ready for real-world application.

For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other - often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

Position Summary

This role provides end-to-end accountability for cost, schedule, and contractual compliance during execution of government technical programs. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in government contracting, development-to-production transitions, and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced aerospace/semiconductor environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, baseline, and maintain integrated program plans including scope/WBS, IMS schedules, budgets/EVM baselines, staffing profiles, and key deliverable milestones; manage change control.
• Identify, assess, and actively manage program risks and opportunities using formal registers, burn-downs, and mitigation/exploitation plans; ensure early visibility to leadership and customers.
• Oversee planning and reporting; perform CAM responsibilities, analyze variances and EACs, and drive corrective actions.
• Manage key suppliers/subcontractors: flow down requirements, track deliverables, perform surveillance, and resolve issues impacting cost/schedule/technical performance.
• Prepare and present program status, risks, and execution updates to senior management, customers, and government stakeholders; ensure transparent communication and data integrity.
• Drive proposal development, BOE generation, and pricing; support capture and business development activities; identify follow-on and adjacent growth opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR export controls, AS9100 quality requirements, and HRL corporate policies.

Required Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in a science or engineering field
• 5+ years of program management, ideally with an emphasis on early to mid-stage research and development (R&D) and government funded contract research and development projects
• Experience with program execution: including but not limited to contracting, sub-contracting, supplier management, finance, purchasing, and legal
• Ability to dynamically re-plan projects and communicate changes as new information and results are acquired and resulting from changes to constraints in resources including staffing, procurements, and financials
• A broad technical background in the fundamental aspects of science and engineering is required. Technical familiarity with microfabrication process flows for electronic components including MEMS is highly desirable
• Costing and scheduling skills include the ability to produce and maintain a networked and resourced master integrated schedule (IMS), critical path analysis, earned value analysis, and presentation of MIS to customers and leadership
• Expertise in MS Project or equivalent, MS office suite
• Effective interpersonal skills to bridge the gap between technical and business functions
• Excellent oral and written communication, interaction with vendors/colleagues and willingness to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Pay Range: $154,500 - $197,900

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Benefits

HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.