Project Manager – Sensor product and solution

Kubota Technology Innovation Europe department

The KTI-EU organization is a newly established department focusing on digital solutions and systems development from both a fundamental and applied research perspective. It bridges the gap between the market research, collaborations and technology mapping (driven by our Innovation Center Europe) and the commercial development done by our R&D centers, like Kubota Research and Development Europe and Kverneland Group. The KTI department centers itself on the European market but in strong collaboration with the global organization and other regional offices e.g., KTI-SV (Silicon Valley, USA) to align and coordinate global initiatives.

In this context and in order to strengthen our team, we are looking to recruit a Sensor Project Manager. The Project Manager - sensing is responsible for managing the design and development of mainly optics-based sensors used in precision agriculture solutions for the Kubota Group. This role is instrumental in driving technological advancements to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability by developing innovative sensor systems for tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural machinery.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the development project of sensor products and solutions for smart agriculture from early research phase until commercialization phase (RGB, near infrared, hyper/multispectral, stereo vision, depth camera, lidar, radar, etc.).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including optical engineers, software engineers, agricultural machinery engineers, and application engineers.
• Ensure seamless integration of sensors into Kubota Group machinery.
• Manage validation testing to ensure sensor reliability and performance and secure this with our quality control system.
• Manage supplier and contract manufacturer relationships, including sourcing, negotiation, and quality control.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical or a related field.
• 5+ years of project management experience in product development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in JIRA, Confluence or a comparable project management tool.
• Experience in creating clear and concise technical specifications.
• Experience in product development lifecycle.
• Experience in outsourcing management.
• Experience in procurement and cost management in product development.
• Experience in 3D CAD software.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Team player and proactive
• Experience in precision agriculture or related industries.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials.
• Knowledge of optical sensor technologies and principles.
• Understanding (or at least a desire to understand) of agricultural practices and challenges.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of precision agriculture and shape the future of farming.