New Product Development Project Manager

Lead product launches – and build the AI tools that accelerate them. We’re looking for a Project Manager to join our New Product Development (NPD) team in Marshalltown, Iowa. The role suits a recent graduate or early-career professional who wants to help launch real products and also has a passion for innovating the way work gets done.

As a Project Manager, you’ll split your time between two connected missions:

1. Lead new instrument products from concept through launch.
2. Build and roll out workflow improvements and AI and automation tools using your hands-on knowledge of the process.

In This Role, Your Responsibilities Will Be:

Project Management

• Support and lead NPD projects through every phase: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closure.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risk registers, decision logs and communication plans
• Prepare and present project status at gate reviews
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and drive accountability against commitments
• Track progress against schedule, cost and scope targets, and catch issues early and help resolve them
• Escalate risks and decisions affecting scope, cost or timeline to the Steering Group
• Communicate clearly at every level, from executive summaries to detailed team updates

AI & Automation Development

• Identify: Find places in the NPD process where AI and automation can remove manual work, improve decisions or shorten timelines
• Map Processes: Document how the project management processes actually works, including workflows, decision points, gate criteria, lessons learned
• Build: Develop solutions with generative AI tools, low-code platforms (e.g., Microsoft Power Platform, Copilot Studio, Claude Code), scripting (e.g., Python) and dashboards
• Scale: Champion adoption across the department by training users, addressing feedback, and measuring impact
• Partner with IT and data governance so that solutions meet Emerson’s security and compliance standards

Who You Are:

You’re a builder and an organizer. Maybe you automated a tedious task for a student organization, built a model for your senior design project, or kept a team project on track when no one else would. New technology excites you, and you want to use it on real business problems rather than just experiment with it.

You’re a lifelong learner who’s comfortable with ambiguity and keeps going through setbacks. You can bring different groups together around a shared goal. You’re organized and detail-oriented, but flexible enough to adjust your approach to each project.

What You’ll Gain:

• Real ownership early: You’ll lead project work on products that reach customers
• AI work with real impact: You’ll build tools for real users with measurable results
• Leadership visibility: You’ll present at gate reviews and share automation results with senior leaders and peers
• Broad business exposure: You’ll see engineering, operations, P&L, market strategy, pricing and customer requirements
• Mentorship and a clear path: You can grow toward program management, engineering management or digital leadership
• Certification/Training support: We’ll support you in gaining the expertise you need to be a success in the role

For This Role, You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management, Engineering, a related field or equivalent experience.     (Students graduating in Dec 2026 or May 2027 are encouraged to apply.)
• Coursework, projects or personal experience applying AI, data analytics or automation
• Extensive hands-on experience with generative AI Assistants (e.g. Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude)
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking skills
• Self-motivated and proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity

Preferred Qualifications That Set You Apart:

• Minor or concentration in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science or Business Analytics
• Hands-on experience with generative AI agents and Automation: Copilot Studio, Claude Code, Python, Power Automate, or similar
• Internship or co-op in product development, engineering, manufacturing or project management
• Experience building dashboards or data visualizations
• Exposure to embedded systems, electronics, firmware or industrial products