R&D Project Manager I

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We are seeking a highly organized and results-driven R&D Project Manager to lead customer development projects and new product testing within Körber’s automation portfolio. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing R&D initiatives that bring innovative material handling solutions from concept to validation in customer environments. The R&D PM will work cross-functionally with engineering, product management, and customer teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, meet performance targets, and provide critical feedback for product commercialization.

Your role in our team

• Manage end-to-end execution of R&D projects, from early concept validation through customer pilots and field testing.
• Define project plans, schedules, and deliverables in alignment with R&D objectives and customer requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and product management) to execute testing and development activities.
• Serve as the primary project interface with customers, managing expectations, communication, and reporting during development projects.
• Oversee new product and feature testing in lab and field environments, ensuring proper documentation, performance tracking, and issue resolution.
• Track risks, dependencies, and mitigation actions across technical and operational workstreams.
• Manage third-party and offshore partners supporting R&D efforts, ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables.
• Consolidate test results and customer feedback into actionable insights for engineering and product teams.
• Support stage-gate or equivalent innovation processes by preparing project updates, financial tracking, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Champion lessons learned and continuous improvement practices to accelerate product development cycles.

Your Profile

• Strong project management skills with a focus on R&D, product development, or early-stage technology projects.
• Ability to manage testing activities, analyze results, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Effective communicator with ability to interface directly with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational and scheduling abilities; adept at managing multiple priorities in parallel.
• Technical fluency across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software disciplines in automation or capital equipment.
• Problem-solving mindset with ability to navigate uncertainty and adapt plans as projects evolve.
• Comfortable facilitating collaboration across engineering, product management, and operations functions.
• Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Monday.com, Jira, etc.).
• Experience working in collaborative environments with diverse stakeholders.
• Effective communicator with ability to influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in project management within R&D, product development, or industrial automation.
• Demonstrated success managing customer-facing development projects and/or prototype testing.
• Experience with warehouse automation, material handling equipment, or capital equipment industries strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with structured R&D processes (stage-gate, V-model, agile development, or similar).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25-50% for customer development projects, field testing, and vendor collaboration.

Your benefits

• You will enjoy a flexible work environment that supports your work-life balance; we offer paid time off for parental leave and 22+ days off for personal time and holidays
• You will have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance plans with FSA or HSA options, and a 401(k) plan with a company match of up to six percent
• You are provided with several company-paid benefits, including vision insurance, short and long-term disability, basic life insurance plans, and educational and employee assistance programs

Can you see yourself in this profile? Then Körber is the right place for you. We look forward to getting to know you!

Equal opportunity employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity to all applicants. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial, and/or local law.

Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience, please contact us via [email protected] . We work with selected partners and therefore ask recruitment consultancies to refrain from contacting us by mail or telephone.

Disclaimer: The duties listed above are intended only as representation of the essential functions of this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change at the sole discretion of the employer. Nothing in this document alters an employee’s at-will employment status. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Individual compensation will be determined by various factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, experience, education, skills, location, and market and business considerations. Applications must be submitted via our career site.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S., this position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Apply now and join our team!

Ready for your next step? Click on ‘ Apply now ’ to get started right away! As long as the position is advertised, you can apply at any time.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applicants - regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity, and any other protected status.

If you have any questions or technical problems, please send us an e-mail to [email protected] . Judith Lascano is the responsible person for this job advertisement. We work with permanent partners and therefore ask recruitment consultants to refrain from contacting us by e-mail or telephone.