Program Manager, High Performance Powertrains

Ilmor is a world-class engineering and manufacturing company focused on high-performance solutions in the racing and marine industries. We combine performance, precision, innovation, and impact to solve complex technical challenges and deliver products that perform at the highest levels. Our team is driven by excellence, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Position Summary & Description

This role serves as the primary technical and customer interface for assigned high-performance engine development programs. This role translates customer objectives into clearly defined technical requirements, scopes engineering work, coordinates execution across Ilmor teams, and supports successful delivery from concept through validation and implementation.

The successful candidate will combine engine development knowledge, disciplined program management, and strong customer communication to deliver solutions that meet performance, reliability, quality, timing, and cost objectives.

Customer Interface & Program Scoping

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned customers and engine development programs.
• Lead discovery discussions to understand customer goals, intended application, performance targets, constraints, timing, and success criteria.
• Translate customer needs into clear technical requirements, assumptions, scope boundaries, deliverables, and acceptance criteria.
• Develop program proposals and statements of work in partnership with Engineering, Finance, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Testing, and leadership.
• Prepare preliminary schedules, resource requirements, development plans, cost estimates, and technical risk assessments.
• Lead customer technical reviews, program updates, and change discussions with clear documentation of decisions and action items.
• Manage customer expectations by communicating scope, timing, dependencies, risks, tradeoffs, and proposed solutions promptly and professionally.

Engine Development & Technical Coordination

• Coordinate engine development activities from concept and requirements definition through design, prototype build, testing, validation, and implementation.
• Partner with design, simulation, calibration, testing, quality, manufacturing, purchasing, and engine assembly resources to execute program deliverables.
• Design components or other requirements in CAD (Solidworks) to support team design efforts
• Support definition of performance, durability, reliability, serviceability, emissions or regulatory, and quality requirements applicable to each program.
• Participate in design reviews, build reviews, test planning, root cause analysis, and technical problem-solving activities.
• Review dynamometer, simulation, inspection, and validation data; summarize results and recommend next steps in collaboration with subject-matter experts.

  Coordinate prototype hardware, component availability, supplier support, test assets, and engineering releases needed to maintain program timing.

• Ensure engineering changes, test results, decisions, customer approvals, and lessons learned are documented and traceable.

Program Execution & Controls

• Develop program budgets and track financial performance throughout the project delivery.
• Create and maintain integrated program schedules, risk registers, and milestone plans.
• Monitor scope, timing, cost, quality, and technical performance; identify variances early and lead recovery planning.
• Apply disciplined change control when customer requirements, technical direction, cost, or timing change.
• Coordinate recurring internal and customer program reviews and ensure owners complete assigned actions.
• Escalate significant technical, commercial, resource, safety, or schedule concerns to leadership with practical options and recommendations.
• Support program closeout, final reporting, documentation transfer, and lessons-learned reviews.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Build productive working relationships with customers, suppliers, engineers, technicians, and operational teams.
• Promote safe work practices and compliance with Ilmor procedures in office, manufacturing, test, and field environments.
• Identify opportunities to improve program scoping, quoting, development, communication, and documentation processes.
• Support other performance engine programs and customer activities as business needs require.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Motorsports Engineering, or a related technical discipline; an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of relevant experience in engine development, powertrain engineering, motorsports engineering, technical program management, or a related field.
• Experience working directly with customers and coordinating cross-functional technical work.
• Demonstrated experience defining project requirements, scope, deliverables, schedules, risks, and budget inputs.

Skills & Expertise

• Strong understanding of internal combustion engine systems, development processes, testing, and validation.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test data, and technical reports.
• Ability to convert incomplete or evolving customer needs into a structured, executable development plan.
• Strong project management, organization, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain complex technical topics to varied audiences.
• Sound judgment, structured problem solving, and the ability to make timely decisions with available information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and project tracking systems; familiarity with CAD, product lifecycle management, and data acquisition tools is preferred.
• High degree of honesty, integrity, accountability, and customer focus.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with high-performance, motorsports, marine, or specialty powertrain applications is preferred.
• Experience with dynamometer testing, engine calibration, simulation, failure analysis, or validation planning is preferred.
• Familiarity with design reviews, failure mode and effects analysis, design validation planning, root cause analysis, and engineering change control is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer sites, suppliers, test facilities, and development events as required.
• Ability to work additional hours, including occasional evenings or weekends, when necessary to support critical program milestones or test activities.
• Valid driver license and ability to meet company travel requirements.

Ergonomics

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, and use hands to operate standard office and engineering equipment.
• Frequently required to review technical data, drawings, computer screens, components, and test results.
• Occasionally required to bend, reach, climb stairs, and move through manufacturing, assembly, and engine test environments.
• Occasionally required to lift or move items weighing up to 30 pounds, with reasonable assistance available when needed.
• May be exposed to noise, heat, moving equipment, oils, fuels, and other conditions typical of engine development, manufacturing, and test environments. Required personal protective equipment must be used.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Work is performed in a combination of office, engineering, manufacturing, engine test, customer, and field environments. The role requires regular collaboration across functions and may involve changing priorities, time-sensitive decisions, and periods of increased activity during development and validation events.
• 15% travel is expected to customers, suppliers and trackside events.