Technical Project Manager

ODU-USA | San Diego or Camarillo, CA (On-Site)

Lead Customer Innovation from Concept to Launch

ODU is a privately held global technology manufacturer headquartered in Germany, with operations in more than 50 countries worldwide. Our products support mission-critical applications across medical technology, industrial automation, aerospace, defense, and communications industries.

As ODU continues to grow across North America, we are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead customer-driven product development projects from initial concept through production launch. This role offers the opportunity to work directly with customers, guide cross-functional teams, solve complex challenges, and help bring innovative solutions to market.

You'll play a key role in coordinating engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing teams while ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to customer expectations. Your leadership will directly influence customer satisfaction, business growth, and project success.

If you enjoy building relationships, leading teams, solving problems, and turning ideas into reality, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead customer projects from project initiation through series production and project closeout.
• Define project scope, objectives, requirements, milestones, and deliverables.
• Conduct feasibility reviews and identify project risks, mitigation plans, and resource requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on technical and project-related matters.
• Build and lead cross-functional project teams while coordinating activities across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and other departments.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, resource plans, and communication plans.
• Monitor project performance and proactively address schedule, cost, quality, or resource issues.
• Manage project changes and ensure alignment with approved change management processes.
• Track project progress, provide status updates, and communicate key risks and decisions to stakeholders.
• Coordinate tooling, investment costs, production costs, and project-related expenditures.
• Ensure all project documentation is complete, accurate, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support production readiness activities and lead project handoff to manufacturing.
• Conduct project closeout activities, lessons learned reviews, and final project documentation.
• Travel as needed to support customers and ODU locations in San Diego, Camarillo, and Tijuana.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience in a manufacturing, industrial, automotive, or related technical environment.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects from concept through production launch.
• Experience working with customers and international teams preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong project management knowledge and methodologies.
• Project Management certification (PMP or equivalent) preferred.
• Technical understanding of mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with project management software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong budgeting, planning, risk management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence and coordinate teams without direct reporting authority.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong customer focus and business acumen.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 20% travel, including visits to customer locations and ODU facilities in San Diego, Camarillo, and Tijuana, Mexico.

Why Join ODU-USA?

At ODU-USA, you'll work on innovative engineering and manufacturing projects while collaborating with talented teams across North America and Europe. This role offers the opportunity to lead complex customer programs, drive business success, and make a direct impact on project execution and customer satisfaction.

ODU-USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $115,000 to $135,000 plus bonus potential; however, ODU considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.