Senior Manager, Product Development

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 develops radiofrequency, millimeter-wave and electro-optical sensors using state-of-the-art materials and device fabrication processes to deliver agile, mission-ready systems. Our high-performance solutions are highly integrated, architecturally low cost, and optimized for size, weight and power efficiency while leveraging commercial, custom and novel mixed-signal innovations.

We are seeking a self-motivated engineer with strong communication and leadership skills to serve as Senior Manager of the Product Development team. This team turns laboratory prototypes into deliverable hardware, firmware and software products. The role consists of roughly 40% management and 60% technical contributions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Product Development team, including front-line managers, and set technical direction, priorities and staffing across programs
• Line management duties include allocating personnel to projects, recruiting, performance management through formal and informal feedback, coaching managers, and lab-wide assignments such as business development and capital investment planning
• Serve as technical lead for product architecture, system integration and test, and design reviews from concept through delivery
• Establish and maintain product development processes: requirements management, configuration management, verification and validation, and documentation suitable for customer delivery
• Own program execution for cost, schedule and technical performance in partnership with program managers
• Brief customers, lead and contribute to proposals, write invention disclosures, and represent HRL product capabilities to government and commercial customers

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related field; M.S. or Ph.D. preferred
• 10+ years of experience developing electronic, RF or sensor systems, including 5+ years leading engineering teams
• Demonstrated record of transitioning hardware, firmware or software from R&D prototype to fielded or production product
• Working knowledge of embedded systems and firmware, mixed-signal hardware, and system-level integration and test
• Experience with systems engineering practices: system analysis, system architecture, requirements flow-down, trade studies, modeling and simulation interface control, design reviews and V&V
• Familiarity with regulations and standards for military (MIL-STD)
• Experience managing cost, schedule and technical risk on government or commercial programs
• Ability to communicate clearly with staff, program managers, executives, and customers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience coaching front-line managers
• Strong background in RF and millimeter-wave system architecture for radar, EW and communication systems

• Experience with DoD programs and their delivery and documentation standards

Physical Requirements:

• Proficiency with computers, engineering workstations and complex electronic equipment; strong oral and written communication
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, both independently and in teams
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time

Special Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance
• Active Clearance is a plus

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $193,700 - $248,250
• 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.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:

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.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

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