Project Manager (PLM & Engineering Systems)

RESPEC is hiring an experienced technical Project Manager in support of our federal government client. This position supports enterprise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Digital Thread modernization initiatives under NTESS Contract Purchase Agreement (CPA) 2851527 at Sandia National Laboratories. This Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Ordering Agreement supports mission-critical engineering systems modernization efforts within the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) environment.

The Project Manager will serve as the operational backbone for task-order execution, ensuring timely delivery of complex engineering system integrations while maintaining strict compliance with federal security, quality, and configuration management standards. This position requires a seasoned professional who can navigate the unique requirements of National Laboratory operations while driving technical teams toward mission success.

Primary Scope Oversee task-order delivery, schedules, resource allocation, and team coordination for enterprise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Digital Thread modernization initiatives. This role encompasses end-to-end responsibility for project execution within a highly regulated environment, requiring meticulous attention to milestone tracking, risk mitigation, stakeholder communication, and deliverable quality. The Project Manager will coordinate cross-functional efforts spanning engineering design systems, CAD data management platforms, Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tools, and integrated configuration control frameworks., * Lead multi-disciplinary technical teams supporting enterprise engineering systems, CAD/PLM data management, and ALM workflows.

• Manage delivery schedules, risk registers, resource allocations, and task-order milestones in Agile/Hybrid environments.
• Serve as the primary operational link between government task managers, engineering stakeholders, and technical implementation leads.
• Facilitate integration, configuration management, and cutover workflows across product lifecycle tools.
• Manage task orders, schedules, milestones, and deliverables in accordance with FFP and FFP-LOE (Level of Effort) contract structures.
• Coordinate communication between Sandia National Laboratories personnel and contractor teams, ensuring alignment on technical requirements, delivery expectations, and quality standards.
• Track progress and submit status reports via Jira and other designated collaboration platforms, maintaining real-time visibility into project health and risk posture.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation including work breakdown structures, risk/issue logs, resource management plans, and quality assurance protocols.
• Facilitate regular status reviews, sprint planning sessions, and retrospectives with technical teams and stakeholder groups.
• Ensure compliance with NTESS and DOE/NNSA security, safety, and operational protocols throughout all phases of project execution.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains across engineering system delivery workflows.
• Manage vendor relationships, subcontractor coordination, and third-party integration activities as required by task-order scope.
• Provide escalation support and rapid decision-making during critical project phases, system cutovers, and production deployments., This position supports work performed at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, located on the Kirtland Air Force Base campus. Personnel must be eligible for site access and may be required to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy (DOE) Q or L security clearance, or demonstrate eligibility for clearance processing. U.S. citizenship or other specific citizenship status may be required based on task-order scope and clearance level.

The work environment is professional and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on safety, security, and mission assurance. The Project Manager may be required to work on-site at Sandia facilities, with some flexibility for remote/hybrid work arrangements subject to contract and security requirements. Occasional travel to support project kickoffs, stakeholder meetings, or system deployment activities may be required.

All personnel working under this contract must comply with NTESS security requirements, including Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) registration, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentialing, and completion of required general awareness and security training. Compliance with NTESS minimum hazard safety requirements and tobacco-free workplace policies is mandatory.

Education & Years of Experience Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; 5-10 years (Senior) or 10-15 years (Principal) of technical project management experience. Active PMP or CSM preferred.

Domain Exposure Direct experience managing project teams within the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), National Laboratories (e.g., Sandia, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore), or strictly regulated defense/aerospace environments. Technical/Tooling Context Experience managing projects involving enterprise PLM, 3D CAD data management, or Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) software environments. Toolchain Familiarity Working familiarity with the PTC product ecosystem (Windchill, PDMLink, CodeBeamer, Creo) or direct functional equivalents (e.g., Teamcenter, Enovia, Azure DevOps/Jira for ALM). Hands-on configuration is not required, but candidate must demonstrate ability to manage teams delivering PTC-integrated solutions.

Core Competencies

• Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder technical projects from initiation through closure.
• Strong understanding of Agile, Scrum, and Hybrid project management methodologies, with demonstrated ability to tailor approaches to organizational context.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and to facilitate productive collaboration across organizational boundaries.
• Experience managing geographically distributed teams and coordinating work across multiple contractor organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing requirements, and maintain project momentum in dynamic environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a data-driven approach to risk management and decision-making., * Active Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification.
• Experience with PTC Windchill, PDMLink, CodeBeamer, or Creo in an enterprise deployment context.
• Prior work supporting Digital Thread, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), or Digital Engineering Transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with DOE/NNSA security protocols, OPSEC requirements, and controlled unclassified information (CUI) handling procedures.
• Experience managing projects within environments requiring personnel security clearances (Q, L, or equivalent).
• Knowledge of NIST, CMMI, or ISO quality and process maturity frameworks.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related technical discipline.
• Experience with federal contracting vehicles, FAR/DEAR compliance, and government task-order execution models.