Compensation: $50–85/hour remote, $75-125/ hour onsite, depending on experience
About the Position
HumanX Lab at Dartmouth College is pursuing a revolutionary research endeavor that combines molecular-level biology, chemistry experimentation, wearable sensing systems, and computer systems to deliver solutions that improve human health. This is an interdisciplinary program that spans multiple engineering and scientific domains. We need a hands-on Technical Program Manager who has personally shipped hardware products, managed contractor teams, and knows what it takes to move from concept to working prototype.
This is not a paper-pushing PM role. You will be in the lab, on calls with spoke contractors, reviewing technical deliverables, and making daily execution decisions. You must be comfortable with ambiguity, able to drive progress without constant direction, and experienced enough to flag risks before they become problems. You are expected to have deep domain expertise in at least one of the core technical areas (hardware, biology, fluidics, or software) and strong enough logic and common sense to coordinate across all of them.
We operate AI-first. AI proficiency is not optional; it is a mandatory requirement. You must be able to use AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, or equivalent) to rapidly prototype deliverables, validate assumptions with data, and accelerate every stage of project execution. We expect a detail-oriented, data-driven operator who treats QA/QC as a core discipline: you identify problems early, surface them proactively, and propose solutions before being asked.
Key Responsibilities
Project Execution & Tracking
• Own the execution of the project implementation plan end-to-end
• Break down high-level milestones into weekly deliverables with clear owners and dependencies
• Maintain a live project tracker: status, blockers, burn rate, critical path
• Run weekly status cycles: collect updates from all spokes, compile, brief PI in under 5 minutes
• Conduct milestone reviews with written acceptance criteria
Contractor & Vendor Management
• Manage 3–5 spoke contractors (circuit design, fluidics, CRO, software)
• Evaluate incoming contractor proposals using structured scoring rubrics
• Run technical screening calls and produce contractor comparison matrices
• Monitor contractor deliverables against SOW milestones; escalate delays immediately
• Coordinate integration across hardware, biology, and software workstreams
Technical Oversight
• Review technical deliverables for quality, completeness, and alignment with specs
• Manage project budget: track burn rate, forecast spend, flag overruns before they happen
• Maintain SOPs, version control, and documentation standards across the team
• Support integration testing when hardware, fluidics, and biology components converge
Required Qualifications
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in hardware product development (not just oversight - you have personally built, tested, or shipped physical products)
• Deep domain expertise in at least one core area: electrical/hardware engineering, mechanical/fluidics systems, molecular biology, or software/AI systems
• Direct experience in medical devices, biotech instrumentation, consumer electronics, or defense hardware
• Proven track record managing external contractors and vendor relationships with measurable outcomes
• Experience with milestone-based project tracking and risk management (Gantt, critical path, earned value, or equivalent)
• Mandatory AI proficiency: you use AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, or equivalent) daily to draft, analyze, prototype, and validate. This is not a nice-to-have; it is required to keep pace with our workflow
• Exceptionally detail-oriented and data-driven: you catch errors others miss, you back decisions with data, and you document everything
• Strong QA/QC mindset: you proactively identify problems, flag risks early, and propose solutions without waiting to be asked
• Strong written communication: you can produce a status report a PI reads in 5 minutes
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with minimal supervision
• Must be based in New Hampshire or willing to relocate to Hanover, NH area before start date
• Available to start within 2 weeks of contract execution
Required: Hands-On Experience Portfolio
In addition to your CV, you must submit a Hands-On Experience Document (2–4 pages) covering:
1. Product Case Study: Describe one hardware product you personally took from concept to prototype or production. Include your specific role, team size, timeline, budget, and outcome.
2. Contractor Management Example: Describe a project where you managed 2+ external contractors simultaneously. What tracking system did you use? How did you handle a missed deliverable or quality issue?
3. Technical Decision: Describe a situation where you had to make a technical trade-off under time pressure. What was the trade-off, what data did you use, and what was the result?
4. Failure & Recovery: Describe a project that went wrong and how you recovered. What would you do differently?
This document replaces the traditional cover letter. We evaluate candidates on what they have built, not what they claim they can do.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with neural interfaces, MEA systems, brain-computer interfaces, or organoid technology
• Background in microfluidics, bioreactor systems, or lab-on-chip platforms
• Familiarity with FDA regulatory pathways (510(k), De Novo, IDE)
• Experience with DARPA, ARPA-H, NIH BRAIN, or similar government research programs
• Master’s or PhD in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• Prior experience in an academic research lab or university-affiliated research center
Pre-Interview Assignment (48 Hours)
Before any interview, shortlisted candidates will receive a 48-hour take-home assignment. The estimated working time is under 8 hours. You will receive a detailed scenario briefing and a master technical file describing a complex, multi-track research project that requires coordination across biology, hardware, mechanical engineering, and AI/ML software.
What we evaluate:
• Your ability to decompose a complex technical project into a structured, week-by-week execution plan
• How you design weekly stand-ups, cross-track syncs, and PI briefings
• Your approach to risk identification, fallback planning, and parallel hypothesis testing
• Your technical depth in one domain area - you will choose one track and act as technical peer reviewer
• How you plan integration of multiple parallel tracks into a single working demo
The full scenario briefing and master technical file will be provided to candidates who confirm interest in the role.
Contract Terms
• 3-month initial contract with 2-week termination notice
• 2-week structured trial period with measurable deliverables
• Month 3 performance review: convert to permanent, extend contract, or end engagement
• All intellectual property assigned to Dartmouth College
• Onsite presence required in Hanover, NH (hybrid schedule negotiable after trial period)
How to Apply
Submit to cihost@dartmouth.edu with subject line: "Onsite Technical PM Application - [Your Name]"
Required materials:
• CV / Resume
• Hands-On Experience Document (2–4 pages, see requirements above)
• Names and contact information for two professional references who can speak to your hands-on technical work
Review begins immediately. Position open until filled.
