Technical Program Manager - R&D

Job Purpose

The Technical Program Manager is accountable for Hyliion's New Product Development programs from inception through Verification and Validation. Based with R&D Engineering in Ohio, the Technical Program Manager drives programs from concept and requirements through design, prototype build, and testing. The Technical Program Manager delivers a design that has been verified and validated against its requirements.

AI at Hyliion

At Hyliion, AI is core to how we work. We equip every team member with leading AI tools and count on you to use them — to move faster, solve harder problems, and help us realize the full potential of KARNO technology for the world.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Ownership & Planning

• Serve as the accountable program lead from initiation through Verification and Validation completion.
• Establish the program charter, scope, integrated master schedule, and baseline budget with Engineering and Finance.
• Drive the program to budget targets by tracking actuals against plan, forecasting variances, and recommending cost, schedule, and scope trade-offs to leadership.
• Maintain the program risk and opportunity register, drive mitigation plans, and flag triggers for mitigation action.

Requirements, Design & Gate Reviews

• Partner with R&D Engineering, Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations to establish baseline program requirements and maintain traceability from requirements through verification.
• Prepare and present Gate Reviews (e.g., Opportunity Assessment, Design, Verification and Validation, Production Validation, Launch), including readiness assessments, open risks, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Coordinate design reviews and ensure action items are closed prior to gate progression.
• Manage engineering change control and configuration baselines through design freeze.

Prototype Build, Test & Validation

• Own the Design Verification Plan & Report and Verification and Validation schedule, ensuring test plans demonstrate the design meets its requirements.
• Plan and coordinate prototype and test-article builds, including long-lead procurement, supplier coordination (including additive manufacturing partners), and build readiness.
• Coordinate mechanical, thermal, electrical, and durability testing at internal and external test facilities, and drive test failures through root cause and corrective action.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Transition to Operations

• Lead cross-functional program meetings aligning R&D Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and external partners.
• Partner with the Operations Program Manager to bring DFM/DFx reviews, supplier selection, and process input into the program early and throughout development.
• Lead the structured transition of the program to the Operations Program Manager upon completion of Verification and Validation per the defined exit criteria, including released design data, Verification and Validation results, open issues and risks, and lessons learned.
• Support the Operations Program Manager after transition by resolving technical program issues that surface during production ramp.

Reporting & Program Governance

• Report regularly to leadership on program health, schedule, budget, risks, and key decisions.
• Ensure program documentation (requirements, design baselines, change records, test plans and reports) is controlled, current, and compliant with company standards.
• Contribute to the development of PMO processes, tools, and templates, including the Phase-Gate framework.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned, needed, or required for the business.

Qualifications

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications include:

• Education, Experience and Certifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field) or a relevant technical discipline required.
  • 5–8+ years of Program or Project Management experience leading complex hardware development programs that are highly cross-functional (ME, EE, SW, Controls, Ops, Supply Chain, etc.) required.
  • Demonstrated experience taking hardware programs from concept through design Verification and Validation required.
  • Experience with Phase-Gate / New Product Development processes (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid) required.
  • Experience in power generation, aerospace, defense, automotive, or similar complex industries preferred; startup or fast-paced setting preferred.
  • PMP or equivalent certification preferred.
• Skills and Abilities
  • Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
  • Strong budget and schedule management skills; comfortable owning financial targets.
  • Strong executive-level written and verbal communication, including the ability to prepare and deliver Gate Reviews.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity, make and escalate sound decisions, and keep team momentum and program cadence on track.
  • Proficiency with Program Management and engineering tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, PLM/change management systems).

Role Classification and Working Conditions

This is a salaried, exempt-level position. This position typically works in an office environment; and given the nature of our business is also exposed to operations/warehouses/production environments.

Physical/Other Requirements

• Ability to travel, including regular travel to Hyliion's Texas manufacturing facility for prototype builds, test events, and program transition activities (estimated 20%), by plane, automobile, etc.

We are not accepting candidates who require sponsorship for this role at this time.