Project Manager-Manufacturing

RF Venue, Inc. • Full-time • Walpole, Massachusetts, United States • $85,000 - $110,000 / year • 2d ago

RF Venue is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the successful development and commercialization of innovative radio frequency (RF) products. This role is responsible for driving cross-functional New Product Introduction (NPI) programs from concept through production launch while ensuring alignment between Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and Quality.

The ideal candidate has experience managing hardware product development projects involving RF electronics, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), and manufacturing. This individual will also play a key role in transitioning products into operations, supporting supplier readiness, and ensuring successful operational launches.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership

Lead multiple cross-functional NPI projects from product definition through commercial launch.
Develop and maintain comprehensive project schedules, budgets, milestones, and risk registers.
Facilitate project planning meetings, engineering design reviews, and executive status updates.
Drive accountability across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, and Sales.
Identify project risks and develop mitigation plans to maintain schedule and budget objectives.
Manage project priorities and communicate changes to stakeholders.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

Own the execution of RF Venue's NPI process.
Coordinate Engineering Validation Test (EVT), Design Validation Test (DVT), Pilot Production, and Production Validation Test (PVT) builds.
Ensure manufacturing readiness prior to product release.
Track engineering deliverables including: Hardware, Firmware, Mechanical design, Documentation, Regulatory approvals, Test procedures.
Coordinate design transfers to manufacturing partners.

Operations & Product Launch

Partner with Operations to prepare products for internal volume production.
Coordinate launch readiness activities including: Production documentation, Work instructions, Test fixtures, Manufacturing processes, Packaging, Labeling, Inventory planning.
Ensure Operations, Customer Service, Sales, and Marketing are prepared for product launch.
Monitor launch metrics and resolve post-launch issues with cross-functional teams.
Coordinate first article inspections and pilot production reviews.

PCBA Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Work closely with Engineering, Purchasing, and contract manufacturers to support PCBA development and production readiness.
Understand PCBA manufacturing processes including SMT assembly, through-hole assembly, automated optical inspection (AOI), in-circuit testing (ICT), and functional testing.
Collaborate with Supply Chain to identify long-lead components and proactively mitigate material shortages.
Review Bills of Materials (BOMs) for sourcing risks, lifecycle concerns, and cost optimization opportunities.
Coordinate component availability with suppliers to support prototype builds and production schedules.
Assist Engineering with alternate component qualification when supply constraints arise.
Support contract manufacturers during prototype, pilot, and production builds.
Monitor supplier performance and escalate issues impacting project schedules.

Cross-Functional Communication

Prepare executive project dashboards.
Communicate project health, schedule status, budget concerns, and resource needs.
Lead weekly project meetings and maintain project documentation.
Ensure action items are assigned, tracked, and completed on schedule.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
3-8 years of project management experience leading electronic hardware product development.
Experience managing New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
Experience working with cross-functional engineering teams.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for electronic products.
Experience working with contract manufacturers (CMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar project management tools.
Experience using PLM systems.
Strong Google Workspace skills.

Knowledge of PCBA Manufacturing

The successful candidate should possess a working knowledge of electronic manufacturing processes, including:

Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) manufacturing
Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
Through-hole assembly
PCB fabrication fundamentals
Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
Design for Testability (DFT)
Prototype and pilot builds
Functional testing methodologies
Manufacturing test fixtures
Engineering Change Orders (ECOs)
Manufacturing release processes

Knowledge of Electronic Component Sourcing

The ideal candidate should understand the electronic component supply chain and be able to partner effectively with Purchasing and Manufacturing to support successful product launches, including: