Project Manager
Redmond, WA 98052 (Onsite)
12 Months

Top 3 must-have HARD skills:

• Project planning and execution - by this I mean quick prioritization, risk assessment and organization of medium term (up to 3 month) goals. They will work closely with multiple technical leads to prioritize and execute the ongoing work. Taking ownership of the priorities and communicating them as needed is expected. If their workstream(s) were unsure what the priorities are with the information available to ensure necessary conversations take place or escalate if needed.
• Strong communication skills - they need to be able to concisely convey the priorities within the workstreams that they work for and to projects or workstreams that support their goals. A technical background will be needed to understand and communicate the goals. Audio background is highly desirable but a different technical background with the ability to learn quickly has worked very well.
• Task management and tracking - they will directly oversee the task management and tracking of goals with their technical leads.

Years of experience needed: This really depends. A fast learner with not much experience can work very well but if a CV comes in with no evidence of interest in project management. We would not interview.

Resume Disqualifiers: No project or program management experience If they worked on the Audio team before and we told that they could not perform one of the top 3 must haves well.

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in computer science, engineering, management or business.

Remote/Onsite: Onsite, fewer than 3 days on site per week is not accepted. If their technical leads are onsite we'd expect 4-5. In their first 6 months they should aim for more than 3 days a week to aid onboard regardless of where their tech lead is located.

Interview Process/Format:

• Initial screening interview (questions asked about their interests, CV and how they might tackle hypothetical scenarios).
• Followed by second round of interviews: -Behavioral, Program Sense and Technical Sense interviews

 
The Team & Role:

• Team brings together a world-class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to create the future of virtual and augmented reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today.
• Just as personal computers have done over the past 45 years, AR and VR will ultimately change everything about how we work, play, and connect.
• We are developing all the technologies needed to enable breakthrough AR glasses and VR headsets, including optics and displays, computer vision, audio, graphics, brain-computer interfaces, haptic interaction, eye/hand/face/body tracking, perception science, and true telepresence.
• In particular, the Audio team is focused on two goals; creating virtual sounds that are perceptually indistinguishable from reality, and redefining human hearing. See more about our work here. These two initiatives will allow us to connect people by allowing them to feel together despite being physically apart, and allow them to converse in even the most difficult listening environments.
• We are seeking a contract project manager to help us advance an ambitious research project aiming to develop technologies that will augment human capabilities and enable effortless communication in acoustically challenging environments.
• We are accepting applications from individuals with proven project management experience in scientific research or technology development.

An ideal candidate would have familiarity with some or all of the following areas of research:

• Audio signal processing
• Machine learning and computer vision
• Hearing sciences
• Product Development (Hardware & Software Integration)

Duties

• Oversee designated projects and provide the team with direction and support, including:
• Managing project goals and timeline
• Creating documentation
• Coordinating technology development
• Assigning and tracking tasks
• Managing timelines and resources
• Monitor problems, facilitate resolution, and implement changes as necessary to keep project on track
• Regularly report on project progress, dependencies, and risks to stakeholders
• Take meeting notes that capture decisions and action items
• Develop request for proposal (RFP) and statement of work (SOW) documents
• Willingness to "roll up your sleeves" and take on operational tasks in support of the team's goals
• Typically requires on-site field work in overseeing project and will report to a Technical Program Manager

Skills

• Work experience in project management with a demonstrated track record of successful project completion
• Proven project management, interpersonal, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail
• Must be proactive, with proven ability to execute on multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with team members and individuals throughout the broader organization
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced research and/or product development environment

  

About Us: SPECTRAFORCE is one of the fastest-growing workforce solutions firms in the United States. As a diversity-owned business, we place human connection at the heart of everything we do, building strong relationships with both clients and candidates to fill roles successfully. Our teams in North and Central America and India serve more than 150 Fortune clients globally, leveraging custom AI technology to provide direct hire, executive search, nearshoring, offshoring, and project staffing solutions.
 
Benefits: SPECTRAFORCE offers ACA compliant health benefits as well as dental, vision, accident, critical illness, voluntary life, and hospital indemnity insurances to eligible employees. Additional benefits offered to eligible employees include commuter benefits, 401K plan with matching, and a referral bonus program. SPECTRAFORCE provides unpaid leave as well as paid sick leave when required by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer: SPECTRAFORCE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Please contact Human Resources at LOA@spectraforce.com if you require reasonable accommodation.
 
California Applicant Notice: SPECTRAFORCE is committed to complying with the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) effective January 1, 2023; and all data privacy laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. A Notice to California Job Applicants Regarding the Collection of Personal Information can be located on our website. Applicants with disabilities may access this notice in an alternative format by contacting NAHR@spectraforce.com.
 
LA County, CA Applicant Notice: If you are selected for this position with SPECTRAFORCE, your offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of several requirements, including but not limited to, a criminal background check. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with all local ordinances and state laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA). The background check assessment will consider whether a criminal history could reasonably have a direct, adverse impact on the job-related safety, security, trust, regulatory compliance, or suitability for this role. Such findings may result in withdrawal of a conditional job offer. 


At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $60.00/hr.