Project Manager - New Product Introduction

Smiths Interconnect is seeking a Project Manager to lead complex New Product Introduction (NPI) programs supporting mission-critical aerospace and defense applications.

About the role

In this role, you will drive cross-functional teams through the full product development lifecycle, ensuring innovative products are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with customer and regulatory requirements. You will serve as the central leader responsible for aligning technical, operational, quality, supply chain, and commercial stakeholders to achieve program success.

Our Team

You will join our Performance Engineering team, a collaborative group focused on developing high-reliability interconnect solutions for aerospace, defense, and other demanding markets. Our team partners closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and commercial functions to bring innovative products from concept to production while maintaining the highest standards of quality and execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) programs from concept development through qualification, industrialization, and production launch.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure project objectives, schedules, budgets, and customer commitments are achieved.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, providing clear communication and project visibility.
• Establish project governance, execution strategies, and risk management plans that support successful product delivery.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to proactively identify and resolve risks and barriers.
• Facilitate project reviews, design reviews, stage-gate reviews, and production readiness milestones.
• Support proposal development, customer quotations, and business capture activities for aerospace and defense opportunities.
• Coordinate prototype development, testing, qualification activities, and pre-production builds to support successful product launches.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance project execution, predictability, and time-to-market performance.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, quality standards, export regulations, and aerospace industry best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience managing complex engineering, manufacturing, or product development projects.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success managing project schedules, budgets, risks, and stakeholder communications.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and related project management tools.
• Ability to travel up to 10% as required for customer, supplier, or business-related activities.

Qualifications

The following qualifications will put you ahead:

• Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI, Agile, or similar project management certification.
• Experience within the aerospace, defense, high-reliability electronics, connector, cable assembly, interconnect, or electromechanical industries.
• Knowledge of AS9100, AS9102, ITAR, EAR, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461 requirements.
• Experience applying phase-gate product development methodologies and governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and First Article Inspection (FAI) processes.
• Experience supporting government contracts and export-controlled programs.
• Strong understanding of configuration management, change control, and production readiness practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and manage multiple concurrent NPI programs.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength—focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most.

• Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts.
• Life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement.
• Paid vacation/time off, educational assistance.
• Infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance (eligibility criteria apply).

Pay

Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.