Program Manager - Hardware Product Development

Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we – Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of. 

We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent – want to join the ride?

We are looking for a Program Manager for Hardware Product Development to join our dynamic, fast-paced Energy Storage & Optimization team.  As a Program Manager, you will manage product development execution activities, that will include managing product development costs, schedules, program scope, risk, changes, documentation, status reporting, vendor relationships and coordinating information with other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of program management experience in a hardware product development environment.  Experience with product development for energy storage and renewable energy applications a plus.

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:

Experience in program management for hardware product development. Knowledge of the role of a Program Manager for hardware product development. Proficient in MS Project, MS Office Suite, and JIRA/Asana for task tracking. Applicants must have good English communication skills, be self-motivated, organized, self-sufficient, personable, curious, and able to complete tasks without strict oversight. Passion for innovation, ability to adapt to fast-changing market demands, and the capacity to work independently and as a team member. Willingness to take ownership of issues and initiatives. Solid organizational skills, including attention to detail and multitasking abilities. Strong work ethic. Energetic and enthusiastic approach.

Preferred Location: Wartsila’s Suzhou Office in China  

Activities:

The individual in this position will play a key role in defining the product development activities, creating the budget and schedule for the program.  Communicate program status and keep the cross-functional team informed on near term activities and issues. The individual in this position will have responsibility for following the phase gate product development process and for expediting tasks to keep the program on track.

The individual will also set priorities for the development team and track that the team is executing as expected.

Your main responsibilities are

• Identify, schedule, and manage scopes and risks to accomplish program deliverables and objectives.
• Establish and maintain program schedules and budgets for new product development activities.
• Communicate program status cross the department, engage with stakeholders, and ensure the alignment with organizational objective.   
• Execute the Wartsila Phase Gate process for new product development initiative and ensure the on-time-delivery in each Phase.
• Monitor, coordinate, and manage actions with a cross-functional resources such as supply chain, business development, vendors, logistic & delivery, and sales, to ensure the program success.
• Collaborate closely with technical team and drive the problem-solving through strategic questioning and inquiries.
• Oversee and contribute to the creation of product requirements documents, development plans, customer facing documentation, and marketing support material.
• Possess strong communication skills and financial acumen to aid in the definition and creation of the budget for the development program.

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:

• In depth understand of the hardware development process for both electrical and mechanical design activities.
• 5+ years of program management experience in a product development organization.
• High critical thinking, decision making, communication, leadership, and influencing skills with balanced technical, financial, and business acumen.
• Independent, self-starter with validated ability to succeed in dynamic environments and constantly changing requirements.
• Strong process management skills with experience managing multiple teams on simultaneous product development activities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or related background is required; Advanced degree or training in Agile/Scrum is a strong plus.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in a matrix environment without direct managerial control.
• Experienced in working collaboratively in a multicultural and geographically dispersed team environment.

• Experience coordinating activities and identifying priorities for the development team. 
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Mandarin Chinese. 
• Expected domestic travel up to 25% and required to be able to travel to United States with a valid visa.    

Why you and us 

We have an amazing team and a clear purpose to exist. We are passionate about the work we do and hope to find a colleague with a shared passion for smart technologies and a sustainable future.

All our employees are encouraged to utilise the variety of training activities, learning solutions and self-study materials that we have to offer which supports the opportunity to further develop your talents and competencies within a very global working environment, in an ambitious and growth orientated organisation. 

Contact & next steps

Does this sound like the job for you? If yes, we hope to hear from you before the application 5th December 2024 by submitting your application through our careers portal. Are you still wondering if you should apply and would like to get something clarified? Please reach out to Tina Zheng, Talent Acquisition Specialist (tina.zheng@wartsila.com) with any questions related to this position. (only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to)

Please apply by 5th December 2024 at 23:59 Chinese Standard Time. Our recruiting tool recognizes the time zone where the job ad has been published and closes the application period according to same time zone.

Last application date: 05/12/2024 

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

This is Wärtsilä 

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 17,800 professionals, in more than 280 locations in 79 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.