PROGRAM MANAGER-R&D - SR. PROGRAM MANAGER-R&D - Machinery and Energy Systems at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

The Machinery Department performs applied R&D supporting advancements in fluid-thermal energy technologies for many industries. We develop solutions through analysis and validate machinery, components, and systems for advanced power, energy transport/storage, industrial decarbonization, and other applications from benchtop to pilot scale.

Objectives of this Role:

• Develop research program areas in an applied engineering R&D team environment for power systems, supporting our clients by developing and validating energy technologies and system/component improvements to reliability, performance, sustainability, cost, or other objectives.
• Lead applied R&D projects and teams to design, analyze, install, commission, and operate industrial power systems including machinery, heaters, coolers, test rigs, and other thermal/fluid power systems and components.
• Inform internal strategic planning for technical program areas, including business development, technical capability improvements, and laboratory facility utilization and improvements.
• Provide technical leadership by mentoring less-experienced technical staff as a subject matter expert in project management, industrial systems, and/or machinery disciplines and associated methods and tools.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with department and other SwRI staff to build business opportunities for government and commercial clients through professional activities/outreach and development of new strategic capabilities via internal research funding.
• Coordinate project team activities and make individual contributions to efficiently accomplish technical project tasks, including activities such as thermodynamic modeling, power system analysis/design, test loop assembly/operation, data analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare technical publications and presentations for business development purposes. Interface with technical clients to coordinate project scope and develop proposals.
• Manage project requirements and schedules, and labor plans. Utilize project controls including earned value, schedule, risk/opportunity analysis, effective task delegation, and other tools to manage progress and interfaces including clients and subcontractors/vendors.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors, Masters or a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related degree field with relevant experience.
• 10+ years: Experience with power system design, analysis, and testing preferred, including functional knowledge of various technical areas including thermal/fluid systems, turbomachinery, prototype design and manufacturing, and large-scale testing.
• 10+ years: Experience with energy system analysis and development over a broad range of fluid-thermal energy technologies. Proven ability to independently troubleshoot industrial power system operations and break down complex research problems into logical tasks.
• 10+ years: Broad understanding of and experience with implementation of industry-accepted standards and guidelines for design, analysis, commissioning, and testing. Experience with integration of multiple systems preferred.
• 10+ years: Past project management experience required and personnel management and/or business development experience strongly preferred. Experience managing government-funded projects preferred. Good organizational and communication skills required, including verbal and technical writing.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.