Engineering Manager. Programs

ENGINEERING MANAGER PROGRAMS

INVEST OTTAWA AREA X.O

Reporting to the Senior Engineering Manager Defence and Advanced Robotics at Area X.O the Engineering Manager Programs is accountable for delivering Area recurring milestone- and KPI-driven engineering programs currently defence innovation programs and the agri-tech (Innovation Farm) program. The role combines people leadership with hands-on technical work with roughly half the time spent leading and developing a small engineering team and half on direct technical contribution. The Engineering Manager Programs also holds overall accountability for the Area X.O design and fabrication lab including its utilization safe operation and application to client prototyping. The role suits a versatile robotics integration or test and evaluation engineer with strong business judgment and client-facing ability.

Work Model:
In person role at our Area X.O site located in Nepean

Corporate Pay Band D: $86400 - $129600

Hiring Salary Range:$86400 - $118800 (Segment 1 - Segment 2)
Reason for Opening:
This is an anticipated role. The position is contingent on confirmation of program funding and posting does not guarantee that the role will be filled. Applicants will be notified of any change in status.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a small multidisciplinary engineering team spanning field support integration test and evaluation and design and fabrication through one-on-ones technical mentorship goal setting feedback and performance management
• Assign and balance work across concurrent projects set technical standards and hold the team accountable for quality safety and schedule
• Participate in recruitment interviewing and onboarding and build team capability across successive delivery cycles
• Provide technical direction across all disciplines on the team including those outside your own specialization

Program Delivery & Coordination

• Own end-to-end delivery of recurring program cycles including challenge definition and sponsor endorsement open call and applicant assessment cohort selection design and prototyping interim reviews and down-select trials and demonstrations and close-out
• Maintain schedules milestones and dependencies across overlapping cycles ensuring continuity between the close-out of one cycle and the scoping of the next
• Plan and execute trials and demonstration events including site and range selection airspace and flight authorizations instrumentation safety briefings and contingency planning
• Manage program budgets effort allocation procurement and capital planning within approved envelopes
• Coordinate site resources including test areas ranges networks fabrication capacity and specialist staff across competing demands and seasonal windows
• Ensure regulatory security and safety requirements are met for each activity

Design & Fabrication Lab

• Hold overall accountability for the design and fabrication lab including scheduling across client and internal demand user authorization consumables and capital planning and adherence to the labs safety training and authorization regime
• Set the standard for hardware produced for clients and make and defend decisions on technical approach tooling and build-versus-buy

Technical Contribution

• Work as a practising engineer across robotics systems integration design and fabrication and test and evaluation
• Translate sponsor problem statements into technical requirements development scope and evaluation criteria and assess the merit and feasibility of candidate solutions
• Assess client technology and maturity identify gaps against program requirements and define the engineering prototyping or evaluation work needed to close them
• Define technical approaches for trials across robotics sensing uncrewed and agricultural platforms including measurement objectives validity criteria and reference data
• Perform hands-on work including system-of-systems integration sensor and payload onboarding IP networking scripting test design data analysis and fault diagnosis
• Resolve escalated technical issues across laboratory fabrication and field environments

Client & Stakeholder Relationships

• Serve as the primary engineering point of contact for client companies SMEs and end users scoping technical work and setting realistic expectations for what the site lab and team can deliver in a cycle
• Work with challenge sponsors and end users to define and validate challenge statements and report candidate solutions and outcomes back to them
• Communicate program status technical risk trade-offs and resourcing needs to senior leadership funding partners and government clients
• Contribute to proposals statements of work and cost and effort estimates
• Represent Area X.O professionally at demonstrations site visits industry events and stakeholder meetings

Reporting & Data

• Define track and report the performance indicators committed under each program including participation milestone completion technology advancement and client-reported outcomes
• Produce program status reports technical summaries and funder reporting on a defined cadence with accurate supporting evidence
• Maintain records of client engagements engineering effort test results and deliverables sufficient to withstand audit and claim review
• Use program data to identify trends forecast risk and inform decisions on scope resourcing and future program design

WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED/GAINED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in robotics mechatronics electrical computer mechanical or systems engineering computer science or a related technical field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Valid drivers licence and ability to travel between sites as required
• Must be a Canadian citizen and capable of attaining and maintaining Secret-level security clearance
• Minimum 3 to 7 years of progressively responsible engineering experience including hands-on delivery in robotics systems integration test and evaluation or a comparable technical domain
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers or technical teams as a people manager technical lead or project lead
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects against externally committed schedules budgets and performance targets
• Experience in a client-facing consulting or technical business development capacity
• Retained hands-on technical depth in at least one core area (systems integration robotics or test and evaluation) with sufficient breadth to direct work in the others
• Strong business judgment including estimating effort and cost scoping work to a budget and recognizing when an engagement is not viable
• Working proficiency in at least one programming or scripting language with Python preferred
• Working knowledge of prototyping and fabrication processes including machining electronics and PCB assembly embedded hardware and additive manufacturing
• Understanding of experimental design and test methodology sufficient to review and approve trial designs test plans and results
• Understanding of shop and laboratory safety governance including training and authorization regimes machine guarding and hazardous material controls
• Practical understanding of system-of-systems integration IP networking sensing technologies (radar RF EO/IR LiDAR GNSS IMUs) edge compute and ROS/ROS2
• Excellent written and verbal communication including reporting to senior stakeholders and funding partners

Assets:

• Experience with uncrewed counter-uncrewed agricultural or industrial robotics or other operational technology
• Experience delivering challenge-based innovation programs or managing a machine shop prototyping lab or comparable fabrication facility
• Experience delivering publicly funded programs with defined reporting and claim obligations
• . or eligibility for licensure in Ontario

Do you have some of these skills but maybe not all We still encourage you to apply as we would love to review your unique applicationand learn more about you!

At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards we know that diversity inclusion and a sense of belongingness are critical success factors for globally competitive organizations and are required to drive sustainable wealth creation and prosperity across our region. We prioritize the creation of an inclusive culture and infuse diversity into our programs operations and governance. As an equal opportunity employer that doesnt simply accept difference but celebrates support and thrives because of it we invite all qualified candidates to apply and especially encourage those who identify as members of underrepresented groups. IO and Bayview Yards are determined to provide a barrier-free work environment starting with the hiring process. If you require accommodation during any phase of the evaluation process please contact to request specialized accommodation. Do know all information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards we are focused on doing better and committed to leading by example because its whats best for us our culture and our community. We may use an AIenabled assistant to take notes during our recruitment process to help our team stay present and engaged during interviews. The tool does not screen assess or select applicants and all hiring decisions are made by people. We welcome inquiries about AI use and/or requests for accommodations at any stage of the hiring process. Personal information (including recordings transcripts and summaries) is safeguarded in line with our privacy policy and applicable Ontario privacy legislation.

Required Experience:

Manager