Job Description Summary

As a member of the Digital & Electrical Systems Technology Director's staff, the Operations Leader partners with the Technology Director, senior technical staff, and functional leadership to initiate and implement a wide spectrum of initiatives to achieve organizational priorities. She/He effectively coordinates collaborative efforts, manages budgets, and contributes to innovation leadership across the Aerospace ecosystem. She/He develops and implements business processes built on rigorous modeling approaches to create and manage a robust operational framework. The Research Operations Leader leads and organizes critical research planning and implements strategy to achieve organizational deliverables. She/He champions Lean principles across the organization to deliver in the key areas of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost effectively and efficiently. This is a high impact role that will provide significant learning and development opportunities for the selected candidate and can act as a development opportunity for a range of leadership roles for a high-performing candidate. This is a driven leader and doer within the organization.

• Collaborate with Technology Director, Technology Managers, EHS, Digital Technologies, and Facilities to ensure the safe and effective operations of all physical and digital spaces.
• Work with technologists to apply project management discipline and collaboration skills to ensure project success (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost). This includes direct project management responsibilities and people leadership of others executing these responsibilities.
• Partner with the Technology Director and senior technical staff to develop and implement multiyear R&D strategy; implement and oversee internal R&D portfolio, own and drive organizational engagement in Aerospace Engineering strategic planning sessions (roadmaps).
• Leverage technology trends, competitive landscape analysis, and cutting-edge fundamental science to influence strategic technology programs/portfolio, establishing and leading programs to key decision points when necessary.
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations to drive a standard financial management approach that provides predictive and current visibility to financial health consistent across the organization.
• Drive Lean principles into the organization; identify and lead continuous improvement efforts and develop/implement Standard Work for policies/processes across the organization.
• Own organizational KPIs and related metrics tracking and reporting. Assign, monitor, and track Action Plans assisting in Problem Solving when necessary. Own annual and quarterly resourcing plan for the organization as part of the Research quarterly estimation cycle.
• Work closely with Aerospace Research operational, technical, and functional leadership to drive consistency across the Research organization.
• Provide people leadership and direction to project leaders, driving hands-on project accountability

• BS Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or similar science and technology field with 5+ years of technical project or people leadership experience in an R&D environment
• Knowledge of project management methodologies including waterfall, Agile, Adaptive Project Framework (APF), Lean, etc.
• Strong technical expertise in related domain with working knowledge in several others (note DES includes Digital Technology Areas: AI/Computer Vision, Knowledge Discovery, High Assurance, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Embedded Systems & Controls and Electrical Technology Areas: Electric Machines, Power Electronics, Semiconductors, Microsystems
• Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders across organizational boundaries.
• Proven leader with strong team-building skills
• Demonstrated problem solving, collaboration, and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• US Citizenship Required
• Must work onsite in Niskayuna, NY

• MS or PhD Electrical Engineering or similar science and technology field
• Familiarization with New Product Introduction (NPI) processes
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• 3+ years leading people in an R&D environment
• Proficient systems thinker and problem solver with demonstrated ability to manage risk.
• Demonstrated proficiency in financial management and project management.
• Experience with US DOD and DOE proposal processes, program execution, management, and reporting.