Leads strategic planning, scheduling, execution, and risk management for multidisciplinary sensor and advanced materials R&D projects. Manages resources, staffing, subcontractors, suppliers, financials, proposals, and technical deliverables. Communicates cost, schedule, and technical risks to customers, principal investigators, and leadership while maintaining integrated schedules and performance reports. Recommends execution improvements and dynamically replans projects as constraints and technical results change.
HRL Laboratories 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 jointly by Boeing and GM, 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.
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:
The HRL Materials and Microsystems Laboratory (MML) is seeking a motivated and agile senior technical project manager to support the technical teams in executing rapid-paced, transformative technology development projects in the areas of sensors and advanced materials. The role with partner with project principal investigators (PIs) and help ensure successful project execution through support and management of program bid/proposal stages, project planning, and team and subcontractor performance.
Key Responsibilities:
• Strategic planning, scheduling, and management of multi-phase development projects that rapidly mature and deploy new technologies
• Plan and advocate as required for resources (personnel, equipment, space, etc.)
• Effectively communicate cost and schedule risk to customers, PIs, and laboratory leadership
• Provide programmatic, financial and technical reporting to customers and internal stakeholders
• Proactively engage project teams on execution progress, strategic planning and development and implementation risk management plans
• Provide recommendations to senior management for opportunities to improve execution
• Prioritize workflows and staffing allocations to maximize project innovation and rate of technology maturation
Required Qualifications:
• BS, MS, or PhD in a science or engineering field
• 8+ years of project management, ideally with an emphasis on early to mid-stage research and development (R&D), product development (PD) and government funded contract research and development projects
• Experience with project 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 desirable
• 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
Compensation and Benefits:
• Pay Range: $172,900 - $221,600
• 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:
https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits
• 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:
https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits
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.
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.
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
For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy
law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy
Similar Jobs at HRL Laboratories
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Software • Nanotechnology • Semiconductor • Quantum Computing • Defense
Designs, builds, tests, models, and analyzes optical, optoelectronic, and photonic experiments for quantum communications systems. Responsibilities include working with free-space and fiber optics, semiconductor device fabrication, data collection and analysis, process improvement, and troubleshooting complex systems with mechanical and electrical engineering teams.
Top Skills:
Fiber OpticsFree-Space OpticsMechanical CadMicrofabricationOptical TestingOptoelectronicsOscilloscopesPhotonicsPower MetersQuantum CommunicationsRf Test EquipmentSemiconductor DevicesSpectrum Analyzers
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Software • Nanotechnology • Semiconductor • Quantum Computing • Defense
Develop, integrate, and test software and architectures for radar systems operating from HF to 200+ GHz. Collaborate with scientists and engineers on radar algorithms, embedded systems, system design, and prototypes. Solve customer problems, prepare invention disclosures, publish technical papers, brief customers, support proposals, and help market HRL expertise. The role requires strong software development, systems engineering, technical communication, teamwork, and willingness to travel.
Top Skills:
BashBitbucketCC++Embedded SystemsGitGitlabLinuxMatlabPerlPythonReal-Time SystemsRosSel4SvnWindows
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Software • Nanotechnology • Semiconductor • Quantum Computing • Defense
Develops system-level validation for advanced MEMS IMUs by defining test plans, pass/fail criteria, and release-readiness coverage. Performs characterization, assembly, troubleshooting, and testing of electronic hardware and instrumentation. Analyzes and presents results, manages configuration and production documentation, supports engineering changes, and prepares prototypes for qualification. Collaborates cross-functionally on requirements flow-down, system integration, and transition to low-rate production.
Top Skills:
Altium DesignerAnalog CircuitsAsicDigital CircuitsEmbedded FirmwareGncImuLabviewMatlabMemsMixed-Signal ElectronicsOscilloscopePower ElectronicsPythonTdrUltrascaleVnaXilinx Vivado
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

