Overview

The Principal Project Lead is responsible for leading, planning, and executing complex technical projects from inception through completion. This role ensures that project objectives are achieved within scope, schedule, and budget while maintaining high standards of technical quality and stakeholder satisfaction.

The Principal Project Lead will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage project risks, and drive continuous improvement in project delivery. The role requires strong leadership capabilities to manage cross-functional teams, ensuring operational continuity, effective knowledge transfer, regulatory compliance, and the successful ramp-up of operations at the receiving site, despite varying levels of maturity at the sending site.

Job Description

Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple technical projects simultaneously.
Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders and technical teams.
Develop detailed project plans, schedules, and resource allocations by:

Breaking projects down into tasks and milestones.
Assigning responsibilities and deadlines.
Utilizing corporate project management tools to visualize schedules and resource workloads.

Coordinate and supervise cross-functional project teams including operations and support functions.
Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
Ensure technical solutions meet business requirements, quality standards, and project objectives.
Communicate project status, issues, and risks to stakeholders and senior management by:

Establishing a regular reporting cadence.
Utilizing clear reporting formats, such as status reports, dashboards, and risk registers.
Highlighting achievements, milestones, issues, and mitigation plans.

Manage project budgets, timelines, and resource utilization.
Foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
Take full ownership and accountability for project execution from initiation through completion.

Job Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field; a Master's degree is preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical project management or related roles.
PMP certification is required.
Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in project management methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall.
Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project and Smartsheet.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Experience in budgeting, resource planning, and vendor management.
Strong manufacturing knowledge, particularly in opto-mechanical assembly and machining.
Experience with ERP systems and business process integration.
Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
Ability to remain resilient and effective under pressure.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong analytical, structured, and results-oriented decision-making capabilities.
Willingness to travel up to 20% as required.