Systems Engineering Manager jobs in Lynchburg, VA

WHY NTS? We make an Impact on the World! We are a purposeful organization that tests products the world can trust, making tomorrow safer than today. Our work is critical to industries such as aerospace, defense, space, telecom, automotive and to national security, space exploration, and the next generation of technology-driven products.

Job Summary:

Manages a book of active, customer projects that may consist of short-term, transactional work, mid-term testing projects, and long-term, complex projects. Ensures projects are completed on-time, within budget, and within scope with the goal of compressing the project life cycle (from New to Complete as quickly as possible) and delivering the project to the customer expectations while minimizing the cost to complete the project. Provides the level of engagement as required by type of project and specific customer to ensure the customer's needs and expectations are met. Has a high focus on customer engagement and on creating a positive customer experience.

Job Responsibilities:

Manages, plans, and controls individual projects through their entire NTS life cycle from new to completion.

Must move projects from initiation to closing as quickly as possible while keeping costs at or below quoted amount.

Takes complete ownership of projects within the assigned book of business. Ownership entails:

1) Focusing on delivering business value to NTS and our customers,

2) Fulfilling our commitments and customer needs,

3) Understanding project success means ensuring the project is completed on-time, within budget and within scope,

4) Responsible for ensuring project-related tasks are completed including outsourced, IJO, supplier-based tasks,

5) Engaging and communicating immediately with stakeholders (ex: customer, DM, GM, etc.) regarding anything impacting project success,

6) Holding other stakeholders (ex: Department Managers, technicians, etc.) accountable to deliver their portion of the project,

7) Planning to meet project goals given any constraints,

8) Ensuring scheduling meets customer needs and expectations,

9) Coordinating the flow of work through the facility with Customers and Department Managers,

10) Implementing corrective actions when projects become distressed,

11) Consistently using the best practices of project management,

12) Establishing collaborative and mutually supportive relationship with those responsible for operations,

13) Striving to make operations successful.

Job Requirements:

* Self-supervision of projects expected.

* Able to manage duties with PM principles and standard SOPs.

* May require supervision with high PM volume or implementing corrective actions.

* Ensures projects are completed on-time, within budget, and within scope.

* Monitors budgets weekly.

* Attempts to compress schedule to maximize NTS utilization including leveraging the full network of NTS facilities.

* Identifies and works to mitigate all suspected future budget overruns before the overrun is reached

* Manages projects to prevent downbooks.

* Follows best practices and procedures in managing book of active projects.

* Builds productive internal and external working relationships.

* Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.

* Proactively manages planned and unplanned subcontracted work (i.e: IJOs and non-NTS subcontractors) including negotiating pricing, setting expectations with the subcontractor, and monitoring subcontractor progress.

* Primarily unique projects, but the scope of work may be routine for the facility.

* Typically FP-NTS jobs and possibly FP-T&M.

* Able to manage standard Change of Scope (COS).

* Proactively and quickly engages with customer as soon as the need for COS is identified.

* Immediately submits COS RFQ for processing as soon as a COS is identified.

* Assists AE in quoting COSs.

* Assists sales in capturing COS PO's.

* Engages with the customer on a schedule and frequency required by the scope of the project and the expectations of the customer.

* Focuses on creating a positive customer experience.

* Acts as the liaison between customer and operations - an advocate that mitigates risks.

* Strong interpersonal skills that are required to manage all stakeholders.

* Must have sales skills to address contract management and COS potential.

* Understands the NTS life cycle phases of a project.

* Basic knowledge of facility's core business (ex: Environmental testing, Dynamics testing, EMC testing, etc.).

* Must be organized and practice time management to coordinate production schedules.

* Applies professional judgment and company policies and procedures to resolve a variety of issues.

* Familiar with financial controls; quoting, pricing, and negotiating.

* Basic skills in prescribed internal tools for scheduling, ERP, and MS Office.

Minimum Education and Experience:

AA Degree; BA/BS preferred or equivalent industry experience.

3-5 years of engineering project/program management experience, ideally in an internal or external test lab (shock/vibration, environmental, dynamics) or we will consider a test engineer or technician with specific testing experience who is looking to advance their career as a PM.Will consider a recent Engineering graduate with hands-on relative testing internship or work experience.

Our Culture

Given the importance of the work we do, we hold ourselves to a higher standard. As a result, the NTS environment is one where people are committed to excellence and working together to accomplish common goals. Our culture is defined by trust, valuing our employees, respect for each other, unity as a team, quality customer service, and training and development of our team for ongoing success. Our goal is to foster an environment where our employees are motivated to break barriers and conceptualize ideas that support our customers' goals of getting their products ready to deliver to market. We recognize hard work, and we reward performance!

Benefits

At NTS, you get a great benefits package with the time off you need to feel refreshed. The benefits, along with a highly competitive salary, are offered to provide protection and security to you and, where applicable, your dependents. Benefits include the following:

• Paid Holidays - 11
• PTO - 17.5 days
• Paid Volunteer Time Off (PVTO)
• Medical, Dental &Vision
• 401K
• Life/AD&D
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Legal Shield/Identity Theft
• Pet Insurance

Diversity Statement

We always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our business.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work-related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.
Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Working Conditions
Test lab with exposure to sudden, loud noises

Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

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