Project Manager

Project Manager

NLign Analytics is a rapidly growing, aerospace and defense technology company with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. We are a multi-disciplinary mix of engineers, scientists, and computer science professionals with a passion for developing and commercializing technology solutions that address our customer's most significant challenges and opportunities; we strive to change the way people think and work.

NLign software currently supports military maintenance organizations and large commercial aircraft manufacturers to improve aircraft safety, reliability, increase production rates, and reduce costs. As a member of the NLign team, you will have the opportunity to work on an application that is fundamentally changing the way organizations use inspection, maintenance, and manufacturing data. 

The Position:

This position provides overall project management for assigned strategic projects that contribute to business growth and enhancing efficiencies among the team for a growing software company. Responsibilities include providing project management support to activities relating to long-range planning and existing near-term goals working with software, design, application, and QA engineers in a Scrum/Agile environment. Additionally, this person will coordinate tasks and deadlines with customers.

This position will be accountable for overseeing all aspects of assigned projects and ensures commitment to scope, schedule, and budget are met. This role sets deadlines, assigns responsibilities, manages schedule and key milestones, summarizes project progress, builds and maintains working relationships with team members, vendors, and other departments contributing to the projects.

The Candidate:

More so than seeking a candidate with specific training and experience, NLign seeks a special type of person; someone with an innate curiosity and passion for learning and understanding, tempered by a recognition of the pragmatic constraints inherent in developing real solutions to real problems. They are flexible and adaptable, having the desire and ability to learn new skills and develop new capabilities to take on challenges outside their current realm of experience. We are seeking very sharp, curious, well-rounded, adaptable people who can learn and grow as required to confront the challenges at hand.

This position will require leadership skills in working with a cross-functional team through roadblocks and issues that could impede progress if not addressed timely. There is a need for a demonstrated ability to influence across business units and effectively coordinate external and internal resources along with a project management track record leading and delivering large complex projects.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide daily project management for research-focused and development programs.
• Forward-looking project planning with attention to tasks to be completed, project due dates, and resource availability.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and lead recurring status meetings, technical discussions, demonstrations, training coordination, and project reviews.
• Translate statements of work, contract modifications, and customer requirements into development activities and measurable outcomes.
• Manage the execution of customer-funded software projects from kickoff through completion, ensuring alignment with contractual scope, schedule, and budget. 
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, action items, risks, and decision items.
• Identify project risks, issues, and resource constraints; develop mitigation plans and escalate concerns when appropriate.
• Provide and track accurate forecast spending, financials, milestones, and delivery dates.
• Provide employees with task assignments with defined objectives, due dates, and estimated hours.
• Coordinate projects and their interdependencies by managing and utilizing resources.
• Coordinate with technical leads, developers, quality assurance personnel, product managers and Chief Architect to establish priorities and monitor delivery progress.
• Support product and release planning activities, including roadmap reviews, sprint planning, readiness reviews, and deployment coordination.
• Assist in quarterly and annual planning with attention to past performance and future efforts. 
• Track, report, and review companywide KPIs, such as revenue numbers and priorities progress.
• Identify known customer needs to appropriate team members.
• Work with others to define & improve processes and standards for the software and operations teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (business, engineering, communications, or related).
• Minimum of 3 years in managing software development, technology implementation, or customer delivery projects.
• Fluent in program management methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple technical projects.
• Planning and implementation experience.
• Expertise in creating work breakdown structures, risk management techniques, cost estimating, schedule development, and other concepts associated with project management methodologies.
• Experience preparing customer-facing reports, presentations, project plans, meeting materials, and contract deliverables.
• Proven record of leading project execution activities to deliver results for business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working within the DoW.
• Experience managing Government Contracts with funded development work.
• Experience working in a Scrum/Agile and Waterfall development environment.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or equivalent certification.

Attributes:

• Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally to all levels within and outside the organization.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to understand the big picture and how it impacts cross functional areas.
• First class communication.
• Continuous improvement: knowledge and abilities in implementing new services or processes through incremental and breakthrough improvements. 
• Innovative, forward-thinking: outside the box thinker – not constrained by “conventional” practices, procedures, and thinking. Sees past the day-to-day for the bigger picture.
• Demonstrated ability to execute a plan and report on milestone status.
• Superior problem-solving skills and root cause analysis.
• Other attributes: respectful, flexible, considerate, thoughtful, intelligent, action-oriented, organized, and creative.

Working at NLign:

At NLign, you'll be a part of a fast-growing organization that combines a small-company family feel with big-company resources and opportunities. We work hard, but we also want you to play hard. Which is why in addition to your competitive salary, medical/dental/vision plan, and a generous annual company 401(k) contribution, you'll enjoy the following perks:

Flexibility: Not a morning person? No problem. We only ask that you begin your day by 10:00am. Also, you will enjoy a flexible schedule and some ability to telecommute. Employees are given the option to work from home as long as it is in line with customer and/or company needs.

Casual Dress: Don't be fooled by the casual clothes and laid-back atmosphere. We're changing the world around here!

Professional Development: Continuous learning on us. Reimbursement provided for up to 100% of qualifying education expenses.

Food: Keep your energy levels up with our well-supplied snack and beverage kitchen and enjoy a weekly lunch with your talented colleagues on Free Lunch Wednesdays.

Fun employee events: Disc Golf Tournaments, Fantasy Football, Sport Outings.

Competitive compensation based on qualifications and experience of candidate.

NLign Analytics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.