Technical Program Manager, R&D

Hyliion•Cincinnati, OH

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Technical Program Manager is accountable for Hyliion’s New Product Development programs from inception through completion of Verification and Validation. Based with R&D Engineering in Ohio, the role drives programs from concept and requirements through design, prototype build, and testing, delivering designs verified and validated against their requirements. The role works across Engineering, Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, Finance, and external partners, and supports transition into production operations. This is a salaried, exempt-level position that typically works in an office environment and may also involve exposure to operations, warehouse, and production environments. Travel is required, including regular trips to Hyliion’s Texas manufacturing facility for prototype builds, test events, and program transition activities; estimated travel is 20%. Hyliion expects team members to use its AI tools in their work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field) or a relevant technical discipline.
5–8+ years of Program or Project Management experience leading complex, highly cross-functional hardware development programs.
Demonstrated experience taking hardware programs from concept through design Verification and Validation.
Experience with Phase-Gate/New Product Development processes, including Waterfall, Agile, or Hybrid approaches.
Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Strong budget and schedule management skills, including comfort owning financial targets.
Strong executive-level written and verbal communication skills, including preparing and delivering Gate Reviews.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, make and escalate sound decisions, and maintain team momentum and program cadence.
Proficiency with program management and engineering tools, such as Smartsheet, MS Project, and PLM/change management systems.
Ability to travel, including regular travel to Hyliion’s Texas manufacturing facility; estimated travel is 20%.
Candidates requiring sponsorship are not being accepted for this role at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in power generation, aerospace, defense, automotive, or similar complex industries.
Experience in a startup or fast-paced setting.
PMP or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as the accountable program lead from initiation through completion of Verification and Validation.
Establish the program charter, scope, integrated master schedule, and baseline budget with Engineering and Finance.
Track actual spending against budget, forecast variances, and recommend cost, schedule, and scope trade-offs to leadership.
Maintain the program risk and opportunity register, drive mitigation plans, and identify triggers for mitigation action.
Partner with R&D Engineering, Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations to establish baseline program requirements and maintain traceability through verification.
Prepare and present gate reviews, including readiness assessments, open risks, and go/no-go recommendations.
Coordinate design reviews and ensure action items are closed before progression through program gates.
Manage engineering change control and configuration baselines through design freeze.
Own the Design Verification Plan and Report and Verification and Validation schedule, ensuring test plans demonstrate that the design meets its requirements.
Plan and coordinate prototype and test-article builds, including long-lead procurement, supplier coordination, and build readiness.
Coordinate mechanical, thermal, electrical, and durability testing at internal and external facilities; drive test failures through root-cause analysis and corrective action.
Lead cross-functional program meetings with R&D Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and external partners.
Partner with the Operations Program Manager to incorporate DFM/DFx reviews, supplier selection, and process input early and throughout development.
Lead the structured transition to the Operations Program Manager after Verification and Validation, including transfer of released design data, results, open issues and risks, and lessons learned.
Support the Operations Program Manager after transition by resolving technical program issues arising during production ramp.
Report program health, schedule, budget, risks, and key decisions to leadership regularly.
Ensure program documentation is controlled, current, and compliant with company standards.
Contribute to development of PMO processes, tools, and templates, including the Phase-Gate framework.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned, needed, or required for the business.