Project Manager, Operations Management, Systems Engineer

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full time California, Richmond, CA, US

Job Title:Project Manager

Reports to:VP of Technology & Innovation

About Us:

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows™, which provides AI-capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our Power Buoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications.

We also provide WAM-V® unmanned surface vehicles (USV’s) and marine robotics services. The Company’s headquarters is located in Monroe Township, New Jersey and has an additional office in Richmond, California.

The Role:

We are seeking a proactive and technically oriented Project Manager to support the planning, coordination, and execution of multidisciplinary engineering programs supporting the development of WAM-V® autonomous surface vehicles, Power Buoy® platforms, and related maritime technologies.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of engineering, product development, and operations. You will partner closely with engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and business development teams to help deliver innovative marine robotics systems from concept through production and customer deployment. This role offers broad exposure to all aspects of product development, providing the opportunity to work closely with company leadership while contributing to the development of next-generation autonomous marine systems.

The successful candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a dynamic engineering environment where priorities evolve rapidly. This position requires strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to coordinate multiple projects while helping engineering teams remain focused on technical execution.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, resource plans, and action items for multiple engineering development programs.
• Coordinate engineering activities across mechanical, electrical, software, systems integration, prototyping, manufacturing, procurement, quality, and operations teams.
• Monitor project progress and communicate schedule impacts, dependencies, and risks to leadership.
• Facilitate project planning meetings, design reviews, and program status meetings while tracking action items to completion.
• Assist leadership with prioritization, resource planning, and cross-functional coordination.
• Coordinate prototype builds, testing activities, production readiness, and customer deliveries.
• Support engineering documentation, configuration management, and engineering change activities.
• Track project budgets, procurement activities, and schedule performance while helping identify opportunities for improvement.
• Identify project risks early and work with engineering teams to develop mitigation plans.
• Support compliance with company quality processes, government contracts, and export control requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Business, or related field; PMP certification preferred.
• 2-5 years of experience supporting engineering, manufacturing, or product development projects.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering projects in a manufacturing, industrial, robotics, aerospace, marine, or similar technical environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience using Microsoft Project (or equivalent scheduling software), Excel, and Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with engineering documentation, BOMs, design reviews, and product development processes.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across engineering and operations teams.
• Excellent written and…