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University of Minnesota · 2 months ago

Research Program Manager – Microelectronics

Minneapolis, MN

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$118K/yr - $162K/yr

8+ years exp

The University of Minnesota’s National Security Research Institute (NSRI) is seeking a Research Program Manager (Microelectronics) to lead business development and program implementation focused on microelectronics. This role involves managing partnerships, overseeing program operations, and ensuring alignment with workforce development initiatives.

EducationHigher EducationUniversities

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Develop new funding opportunities across agencies such as DARPA/MTO, DoD Service Labs, DMEA, NIST/NSTC, and Microelectronics Commons

Shape opportunities (white papers/SOIs/briefings), build competitive teams (UMN + labs + foundry/OSAT + primes), and drive compliant on-time submissions

Set win-rate targets; run gate/color reviews; align capture plans to TRL/MRL and transition pathways; coordinate with federal relations and communications for briefings

Serve as PI/co-PI on targeted efforts (e.g., hardware assurance, trusted EDA/verification flows & PDK enablement, advanced packaging/HI, RF/photonics/power devices, radiation effects/reliability, or test/DFT)

Lead technical scoping, milestones, deliverables, and data management; mentor students/staff; publish/present results as appropriate

Guide method/flow choices (EDA/DFT/verification, packaging/test plans) and review fidelity/validation

Act as day-to-day interface to sponsors, Commons nodes, national labs, foundries/OSATs, and EDA vendors; coordinate PMRs/IPRs, site visits, tech exchanges, and fab/test access

Coordinate with UMN SCALE leadership and national consortium partners to connect sponsors with student pipelines, design challenges, short courses, and rapid upskilling modules; align tool enablement and facility access with SCALE offerings

Accurately convey government feedback and program status between PMs and UMN teams—no “message drift.”

Lead FAR/DFARS and OTA administration: SOW/CDRLs, budgets/BOEs, subawards, mods, invoices, and closeout

Maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), risk register, and EV-style cost/schedule tracking; produce compliant reports (quad charts, IPMDAR-like status, ETC/EAC)

Support SCALE-related MOUs/subawards/reporting and track workforce deliverables/metrics required by sponsors and campus

Supervise project staff; coordinate student pipelines (capstones, internships, design challenges)

Support UMN SCALE activities (module development, guest lectures, industry days, internships/externships, project-based learning) and ensure sponsor problem statements feed directly into SCALE offerings

Measure and report SCALE outcomes (participation, placements, skills attainment) and integrate them into portfolio updates for the ED, Governing Board, and Faculty Advisory Board

Ensure ITAR/EAR, CUI/CTI protection, secure compute/data workflows, and tool/license compliance; manage IP/data rights (CRADA/NDA/DUA)

Provide concise quarterly portfolio updates and contribute to institute-level impact metrics

Qualification

Microelectronics R&DBusiness DevelopmentProgram ManagementTechnical LeadershipTrusted Hardware SecurityEDA Design/VerificationAdvanced PackagingRisk ManagementTechnical WritingTeam LeadershipCollaborationOrganizational Skills

Required

MS in a technical field (electrical/computer engineering, materials science, physics, or closely related); PhD strongly preferred

Eight years relevant experience with 5+ years leading government-facing microelectronics R&D (DoD/NIST/Service Labs/FFRDC/UARC or prime), with experience as PI/co-PI or technical/task lead

Demonstrated success in BD/capture and winning proposals, plus hands-on program management (contracting, reporting, IMS, risk, cost/schedule control)

Deep working knowledge in one or more: trusted hardware/security & assurance, EDA design/verification flows & PDK management, advanced packaging/heterogeneous integration, RF/opto/power devices, radiation effects/reliability, or test/DFT

U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance

Due to the nature of some of the essential functions of this position, successful candidates must: be a US Citizen

possess an active US Government security clearance or have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Preferred

PhD with hands-on design/verification, packaging/test, or radiation/reliability experience

Direct experience with CHIPS/NSTC, Microelectronics Commons, DARPA/MTO, and trusted supply-chain frameworks

Familiarity with foundry/OSAT engagements, EDA licensing and secure design flows, cleanroom/fab operations, lab-to-fab transition, and data rights/IP management

Experience collaborating with university workforce programs (e.g., UMN SCALE or similar), including curriculum co-development and experiential learning