Purpose of the position

As a Technical Program Manager, you will coordinate and manage multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed hardware and software engineering teams to deliver on strategically important programs and products.  Candidates need a broad technical background that have experience with hardware and software development and commercially launching products to market.  You are motivated, highly organized, a self-starter, technically minded, with a hands-on, data-driven, and customer-focused approach to managing programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work directly with product management to have a complete understanding of product goals and requirements.
• Work alongside both internal and external hardware and software engineering and management teams as a key contributor to project plans providing technical insight, governance, and support.
• Technical coordination of internal hardware and software teams and external suppliers.
• Understand project dependencies and ensure technical execution against project plans providing direction and prioritization as required
• Anticipate risks; assess, mitigate, and manage accordingly.
• Consult with external contractors and suppliers to understand their technical roadmaps and synergies with SMART’s product needs.
• Align product leadership to the technical direction and strategy and execution plans for the program.  Lead cross-organizational discussions as needed for technical alignment.
• Coordinate technical stakeholders to assess impact to the development roadmap, resourcing, and architecture.  Contribute to architecture and design discussions led by engineering teams, ensuring that decisions fit with broader strategic and program objectives.

• Own and deliver regular communication on program status – report success and challenges and adjust the vision/product plan as needed. This includes a synthesis and deep understanding of the technical implementation and execution plans balanced with business objectives.
• Contribute to the analysis, prioritization, balancing, and business case development of new product investment opportunities for hardware and solutions at SMART, considering the entire product portfolio.
• Collaborate across all internal stakeholders and business teams to evangelize proposed solutions, and gain insight, feedback, and buy-in.
• Assist in defining TPM and product operations processes.  Identify broader gaps within core products suggesting and championing improvement throughout the organization.
• Performing other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software, or Computer Engineering or equivalent.  Masters preferred.
• 10+ years with industry experience in developing integrated hardware and software products or leading hardware or software development teams.
• Demonstrated track record of exceeding established goals consistently.
• Combined strengths in technical knowledge/skills and business acumen.
• Expert in product development life-cycle management methodologies.
• Strong cross-functional leadership, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Professional demeanour and the ability to manage issues with tact and diplomacy.
• Must think strategically about product and business issues.
• Proven experience successfully operating in a global, highly matrixed environment is required.
• A self-starter with strong analytical skills, prioritization skills, initiative, and superior attention to detail.
• Perseveres and works through challenges to achieve success.
• Action and performance oriented.  Able to execute complex programs independently.
• Ability to motivate and inspire others to collaborate effectively.
• Project management experience with both waterfall and agile methodologies.  Familiar with roles such as system and software architect, product manager and product owner.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills to communicate equally well with engineers, product managers, and executives.
• Strong preference for those with demonstrated experience working with or managing Asia based suppliers.

Supervision

• This role does not have any direct reports.

Working conditions

• Based in Calgary (location flexible but working out of our Calgary office is strongly preferred).
• Fast-paced work environment with a high performing and highly interactive team that is primarily in the office.  Access to technology and products is paramount to effectively performing in the role.
• Comfortable working outside of core hours when required to support engagements with overseas external partners.
• Able to travel internationally (up to 20%).