Project Manager

Kickmaker • San Francisco, CA

6d • $150,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Kickmaker is an engineering consultancy and design office with end-to-end capabilities, working with innovators to turn ambitious ideas into market-ready products. Its multidisciplinary teams combine hardware, software, and industrial expertise to support high-tech projects from strategic vision through mass production. The company has more than 300 strategists and engineers across the United States, France, and China, and serves industries including robotics, medical devices, aerospace and defense, mobility and energy, special machinery, consumer products, and premium and luxury products.

The Project Manager is an advisory role with commercial ownership, working with clients such as CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and founders on high-stakes hardware decisions. The role leads discovery and strategy discussions, reframes client challenges, recommends actionable paths forward, and makes the case for Kickmaker as a delivery partner when appropriate. The position owns and grows strategic accounts across the product lifecycle, from prototype through EVT, DVT, and PVT to mass production, while guiding engineering teams and supporting scoping, risk management, and delivery. The stated annual salary range is $150,000–$200,000 for the fixed component, with an additional variable component tied to agreed objectives.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of hardware engineering experience in robotics, with deep new product introduction (NPI) experience and products helped from prototype through production.
• Ability to debate design choices as an equal with senior client engineers and earn their trust.
• Executive presence, a clear point of view, comfort disagreeing with C-level leaders, and ability to turn technical arguments into business decisions.
• Experience with consultative, long-cycle B2B sales.
• Excellent written and verbal English.
• Based in the United States, authorized to work in the United States, and ready to travel for clients.

Nice To Haves

• Background at an engineering, deep-tech, or product development consultancy taking hardware from concept to production, or experience founding a hardware startup.
• A proven move into strategic or commercial work, such as CTO, VP of Engineering, CCO, General Manager, Principal Consultant, Senior Solutions Leader, or Director of Sales Engineering, with accounts grown or deals closed.
• R&D background, such as patents, publications, or leadership of an advanced engineering lab.
• Experience with manufacturing transfer and outsourced supply chains.
• A strong network among United States hardware, robotics, medtech, industrial, or consumer-electronics leaders.
• Exposure to United States deployment of French or European businesses.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy discussions with senior client stakeholders and constructively challenge assumptions to drive better outcomes.
• Shape and defend proposals focused on architecture, make-versus-buy decisions, design for manufacturing (DFM), and industrialization trade-offs.
• Own Tier 0 strategic accounts and grow them across the product lifecycle, from prototype through EVT, DVT, and PVT to mass production.
• Generate new opportunities through Kickmaker’s network, industry events, and thought leadership, and drive opportunities through to signature.
• Guide engineering teams on assigned accounts by setting technical direction, keeping delivery on track, and ensuring client success from kickoff to handover.
• Partner with engineering and operations leads in the United States and France to oversee scoping and risk management.
• Lead client discovery and strategy conversations, recommend actionable paths forward, and present Kickmaker’s capabilities as a delivery partner where appropriate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed