Pre-Construction Project Manager
About The Position
SoftBank Robotics America, a rapidly growing SoftBank Group company headquartered in San Francisco, is accelerating our presence at the intersection of advanced technology, AI, automation, and robotics. At the forefront of innovation, we are launching ground-breaking programs focused on deploying integrated software and hardware automation systems designed to transform workflows, safety, and commercial efficiencies at scale. As the global leader in workforce automation, we are seeking a Pre-Construction Project Manager to join a fast-growing team shaping the future through robotics and large-scale automated construction deployments. This role will play a critical part in enabling informed executive decision-making by driving cost modeling, process analytics, and pre-construction planning rigor across complex, technical build environments. With automation, any pre-construction planning becomes the key success factor. Job Summary Reporting to senior leadership, the Pre-Construction Project Manager will own process and cost analysis, operations planning and orchestration for complex technical construction and deployment projects. This role operates at the intersection of engineering, finance, operations, and executive leadership, translating ambiguity into structured plans that support rapid, high-impact decisions. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in an unstructured, fast-changing environment, thrives under tight timelines, and brings a strong civil engineering foundation paired with analytical and project leadership capabilities. This role requires flexibility, strong judgment, and the ability to operate across time zones, including Japan Standard Time (JST), to support global stakeholders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (required)
- 10-year experience supporting complex, technical building or infrastructure construction projects
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in high-ambiguity, fast-paced environments
- Strong analytical skills with experience in cost modeling, budgeting, and process analysis
- Proven ability to create structure, clarity, and momentum in evolving project contexts
- Comfort working under tight timelines aligned with executive decision cycles
- High degree of flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and project conditions
- Willingness and ability to collaborate across Japan Standard Time (JST) as needed
- Travel requirements: 25% - 50%, as required by specific project phases
Nice To Haves
- Experience in technology-enabled, industrial, robotics, or automation-related construction environments. Some industrial engineering and/or manufacturing experience is a plus.
- Exposure to executive-level reporting and decision support
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical detail into leadership-ready insights
- Background working in global or matrixed organizations
- Experience in complex technical building construction
- Ability to navigate unstructured environments and create structure
- Extreme flexibility in response to changing project requirements
- Ability to work under tight, executive-driven timelines
- Flexibility to support JST collaboration
- Civil engineering foundation
Responsibilities
- Lead pre-construction planning activities, including scope definition, constructability reviews, sequencing strategies, and feasibility assessments
- Develop and maintain cost estimates, budgets, and financial models, including scenario and sensitivity analyses to support executive decisions
- Build and refine process analytics related to construction workflows, timelines, cost drivers, and risk exposure
- Partner with engineering, operations, procurement, and finance teams to ensure alignment between technical requirements and cost realities
- Create structure where none exists—establishing frameworks, templates, and repeatable processes appropriate for a rapidly scaling environment
- Identify risks and opportunities early and clearly communicate tradeoffs to senior leadership
- Support leadership decision-making by delivering concise, data-backed insights under compressed timelines
- Adapt plans quickly in response to changing project scope, priorities, or executive direction
- Coordinate with global stakeholders, including supporting collaboration across U.S. and Japan time zones
- Go beyond job description to ensure project success
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
