A Day in Your Life at MKS:
The Senior Program Manager leads execution of complex NPI and advanced development programs across the Vacuum Products division, managing multiple concurrent projects from concept through production launch. Reporting to the Director of Project Management and partnering closely with the business GM and engineering leaders, this role requires the ability to drive cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment where influence matters more than title. The position demands strong technical curiosity, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to operate independently while maintaining clear upward communication on program status, risks, and resource needs.
You Will Make an Impact By:
- Manage execution of multi-project programs across the full product development lifecycle, including scope, schedule, budget, and risk management, using the MKS Product Development Process
- Drive cross-functional coordination across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and business teams to meet program commitments
- Develop and maintain integrated program schedules, tracking cross-program dependencies and surfacing conflicts early enough to act on them
- Own program financials including budget development, cost tracking, earned income projections, and variance reporting
- Lead program and gate reviews with senior leadership, providing clear, transparent assessments of delivery health and risk
- Maintain project documentation and deliverable traceability consistent with ISO quality system requirements, including audit-ready records
- Partner with engineering directors and functional managers to resolve resourcing and technical challenges without waiting for direction
- Deliver against aggressive time-to-market targets, pushing execution speed to the edge of the Product Development Process without breaking its intent
- Use judgment to scale the Product Development Process to each program's requirements
- Travel Requirements: up to 15%
Skills You Bring:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
- 10+ years of related experience required in a hardware product development environment
- Demonstrated ability to manage programs consisting of multiple concurrent projects with cross-functional dependencies
- Strong working knowledge of stage-gate or similar product development processes
- Knowledge and application of project management tools such as Gantt charts, PERT charts, action items, Scrums, managing to critical path, etc.
- Track record of leading through influence in matrixed organizations where direct authority over functional resources is limited
- Demonstrated ability to manage customer-facing engineering relationships
- Comfortable operating in environments where processes are evolving and the PM is expected to identify and help close gaps rather than just follow established procedures
- Continuous improvement mindset - apply MKS Product Development Process to the project objectives and develop process and teamworking principles to continuously improve outcomes
- Ability to travel up to 15%
Preferred Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or a related technical discipline strongly preferred
- Experience managing projects in a hardware development environment strongly preferred
- PMP certification or equivalent
- Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems and audit processes
- Experience managing program budgets in the $1M - $2M range including development, approval, and variance reporting
- Experience in startup environments a plus
- Experience in semiconductor equipment, industrial technology, or a related precision manufacturing industry
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
- Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time
- Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand
- Must be able to exchange accurate information
- Operates in a professional office environment
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery
- Ability to observe documents and details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)
- Noise level in the work environment is usually rare
This position is onsite and candidate must live within commutable distance to our location in Andover, MA.
Compensation and Benefits: Salary Pay Range: $ 155,000.00 - 210,000.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. persons." "U.S. persons" are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, s), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role
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