Engineering Program Manager, XRX

ZEISS•Dublin, CA

About The Position

The Engineering Program Manager leads advanced spectacle lens development programs for the XRX business and a key U.S. account, from concept through industrialization. The role contributes to wearable vision technology development, where optical performance and user experience are critical, and works with engineering and manufacturing experts on programs with strategic visibility. The position manages complex, often multiyear product and technology programs characterized by technical uncertainty, evolving customer needs, multiple development loops, and strict industrialization-readiness criteria. The manager translates customer requirements into measurable objectives, plans, milestones, and deliverables; coordinates cross-functional teams; and manages scope, schedules, risks, dependencies, cost, quality, and performance. The role is accountable for integrated project delivery, operating within corporate development processes, governance, quality systems, and applicable regulatory and safety guidelines. Strategic, commercial, investment, and other high-impact decisions are shared with or escalated to senior and functional leadership. The Engineering Program Manager directly drives the customer relationship, including preparing and moderating meetings and following up on actions. Customer meetings may take place at ZEISS premises or at customer headquarters. The manager works with functions across ZEISS and with upstream and downstream suppliers. The position has no direct reports, though the number of indirect project contributors can be substantial. Projects may generate between $5 million and $100 million per year, and project costs vary significantly by project.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field of experience.
At least 5 years of experience.
Proven experience managing complex technical development projects.
Strong ability to structure ambiguity and turn evolving requirements into actionable plans.
Excellent stakeholder management skills, including confidence working with demanding, detail-oriented customers.
Ability to align teams without formal authority and maintain momentum under pressure.
Clear, concise communication skills, including the ability to balance technical detail with executive-level clarity.
Resilient, pragmatic, solution-oriented approach and comfort navigating conflict and high expectations.
Solid understanding of product development lifecycles and cross-functional collaboration.
Willingness to travel nationally and internationally; estimated travel is approximately 25%.

Nice To Haves

Experience in optics, medical devices, consumer electronics, or a similar high-precision industry.
Experience working directly with customers.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end project management for advanced spectacle lens development programs, from concept through industrialization.
Plan and control complex, multiyear new-product and new-technology programs through all project phases, including programs with high technical uncertainty, multiple development loops, and strict industrialization-readiness criteria.
Translate evolving customer requirements—including optical performance, manufacturability, cost, and regulatory considerations—into structured project objectives, plans, milestones, and deliverables.
Coordinate cross-functional development teams and serve as a central liaison among R&D, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, supply chain, engineering, and other functions.
Manage project scope, timelines, risks, and dependencies; conduct risk reviews and scenario analyses; and plan mitigations and corrective actions.
Communicate regularly with internal teams and external stakeholders, providing clear, decision-oriented updates and escalating issues appropriately.
Identify emerging technical, organizational, and execution issues; provide fact-based options and impact assessments; and guide teams toward pragmatic, high-quality solutions.
Monitor and maintain project performance, cost, and quality targets through reviews, KPIs, and deviation analyses.
Drive the customer relationship by preparing and moderating meetings and following up on actions; meet customers at ZEISS premises or their headquarters as needed.
Make project sequencing, prioritization, phase-transition, day-to-day coordination, and in-framework corrective-action decisions within established governance, escalating significant deviations and strategic trade-offs as required.