Staff Engineering Project Manager

Overview

Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Bruker’s high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular, and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life science molecular research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, and in industrial applications, as well as in cell biology, preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics and proteomics research and clinical microbiology.

Today, worldwide more than +11000 employees are working on this permanent challenge at over 90 locations on all continents. Bruker continues to build upon its extensive range of products and solutions, its broad base of installed systems and a strong reputation among its customers. Being one of the world's leading analytical instrumentation companies, Bruker is strongly committed to further fully meeting its customers’ needs as well as continuing to develop state-of-the-art technologies and innovative solutions for today's analytical questions.

Bruker’s Tribology, Stylus and Optical Metrology (TSOM) Business Unit, headquartered in San Jose, California, is the industry leader in multi-function Tribology test systems, Stylus Profilers, 3D Optical Microscopes and nano-scale resolution Optical Metrology systems with staff in Asia, Europe, and the United States.  We have an expansive customer portfolio and serve industries ranging from Polymers & Plastics, Industrial Coatings, Precision Machining, Medical Devices, Automotive & Aerospace, and Semiconductors & Microelectronics.

Responsibilities

Bruker is seeking an Engineering Project Manager to lead development initiatives for our Stylus and Optical Metrology (SOM) product lines. In this role, you will oversee the design and development of products that meet customer, manufacturing, and market needs. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service—throughout the product lifecycle.

You will be responsible for managing project logistics such as requirements, schedules, deliverables, documentation, and status dashboards. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Prior experience in a technical field is required. While the business is based in San Jose, CA, this position offers hybrid/remote flexibility.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Lead cross-functional development efforts with full accountability for project success.
• Define detailed project requirements based on customer needs and business goals.
• Develop and manage project schedules aligned with resource availability.
• Decompose deliverables into hardware, software, compliance, reliability, service, and manufacturability components.
• Identify and mitigate risks, resolve issues, and drive projects forward.
• Maintain clear documentation and ensure effective communication across teams.
• Update and present project status dashboards to management.
• Organize and archive project documentation from initiation through closure.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of the product development process.
• Ensure adherence to the New Product Development (NPD) process.
• Serve as the primary engineering project liaison with customers and third-party development partners.
• Apply decision analysis tools to adapt to changing circumstances and implement practical solutions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proven track record managing technically complex projects (electrical, mechanical, optical, MEMS, software). Preferred experience in semiconductor capital equipment or advanced optical instrumentation.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to guide interdisciplinary and distributed teams (Engineering, Marketing, Operations, Service, vendors, etc.).
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities. Drive for results, executing and delivering against tight time schedules.
• Hands-on experience with hardware components, diagnostic instrumentation, and software control systems.
• Skilled in data-driven decision-making, system trade-off analysis, structured problem-solving, and bringing closure to issues.
• Familiarity with formal product development processes (roles, responsibilities, deliverables, etc.), structured troubleshooting approaches, Design of Experiments (DOE), and statistical analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft 365