Project Manager - Research and Development

Build a career powered by innovations that matter!

At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

Company Overview

Are You Ready to Take Your Next Career Step? At Novanta, we foster a culture of career development. Come explore a world of opportunities throughout our global teams.

Novanta is the world’s leading developer of robotic end of arm technologies. Novanta end-effectors enhance productivity and flexibility of robotic and automated solutions across a wide spectrum of industries through capabilities such as automatic tool changing, force-torque sensing, material removal, and more. Since 1989, our commitment to engineering excellence, superior quality, and customer-focused support drives us to innovate and continuously improve the most reliable automated solutions available.

Job Summary

As a Project Manager on our Research & Development team, you’ll play a key role in bringing new products to life - from initial concept through launch. This is a great opportunity to build a strong foundation in program management while gaining hands-on, cross-functional experience working with engineers (hardware and software), product managers, procurement, sales, manufacturing, and senior leadership.

You’ll help manage projects that support Novanta’s growing robotics and automation portfolio, working alongside experienced engineers and program leaders who will help develop your skills as you grow into program management. This is an individual contributor role with high visibility and strong potential for career growth within Novanta.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams - including engineering, product management, procurement, sales, and manufacturing - to deliver projects to agreed scope and timeline.

• Create and follow project management plans from project inception to closure, in alignment with Novanta’s ISO 9001-compliant Product Development Process and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Record, track, and monitor project and program RAID items such as risks, issues, dependencies, and assumptions.

• Track and monitor action items through to closure and document key decisions.

• Manage and support project resources, including internal teams and technical resources.

• Create and manage key project documentation such as project charters, meeting minutes, KPIs, and project closure presentations.

• Manage timelines to ensure key deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and to quality standards.

• Interface with customers and suppliers as needed during design and development, facilitating clear communication with internal stakeholders.

• Support the planning and execution of projects in line with Novanta’s Product Development Process (or the customer’s development process, as applicable).

• Coordinate and help prepare project business reviews for senior executives, aligning with internal stakeholders such as product marketing, development, procurement, and finance.

• Partner with engineering teams to gain exposure to product roadmaps and capability development.

General Tasks

• Use project management software tools to manage, track, and report on projects throughout the entire project lifecycle.

• Host and lead project meetings to track pertinent decisions, actions, and task completion.

• Provide periodic, reliable updates to all internal stakeholders.

• Attend customer meetings as needed to align to their requirements.

• Capture meeting notes and minutes to facilitate project alignment as needed.

• Maintain strict compliance with quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety regulations, and follow the instructions of the quality, environmental management, and/or occupational health and safety officer.

Required Experience, Education, Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

• 1-3 years of Project Management experience

• 3-5 years cumulative experience working on or managing projects

• Ability to work in a team environment and foster collaboration across different disciplines

• Motivated - be able to take direction and work independently to achieve goals

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English

• Familiarity with Smartsheet or MS Project (or similar project management software tool experience) desired

• PMP certification is a plus

• Familiarity with ISO9001 or ISO13485 compliance is a plus

Travel Requirements

• ~10% Travel (or less) as needed

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.