Program Manager

Program Manager

• 510761
• Main Campus - Starkville, MS
• Mississippi - Main Campus
• 061700 - Mechanical Engineering
• Professional
• Full-Time 12-Month
• Opening on: Jul 27 2026

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Position Function:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University seeks a full-time, twelve-month Program Manager to lead workforce development and training initiatives within the Innovation Design and Engineering Educational Laboratory (IDEELab), with primary responsibility for the America's Cutting Edge (ACE) Machining Program.

The Program Manager will serve as the operational and technical lead for the development, implementation, and expansion of advanced manufacturing and machining workforce development programs. This position will oversee curriculum deployment, hands-on training delivery, industry engagement activities, partner coordination, workforce certifications, and outreach initiatives supporting students, industry professionals, educators, military personnel, and community stakeholders throughout Mississippi and Tennessee.

The successful candidate will coordinate workforce development projects, manage ACE Hub activities, support community college and high school spoke locations, cultivate industry partnerships, and contribute to the growth of Mississippi State University''s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. The position will work closely with faculty, industry partners, government agencies, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations to strengthen manufacturing talent pipelines and support national workforce priorities.

In addition to leading ACE Machining activities, the Program Manager will support a variety of IDEELab workforce development, research, outreach, and industry engagement initiatives that advance the mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Bagley College of Engineering.

Salary Grade: 15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Department Profile:

Mississippi State University is an R1 institution with very high research activity. The Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering is one of eight academic departments in the Bagley College of Engineering. The Mechanical Engineering School's faculty research expenditure is approximately $15.2M annually for 20 tenure/tenure-track faculty. The Mechanical Engineering School offers an ABET-accredited undergraduate program in mechanical engineering, as well as graduate studies leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The Mechanical Engineering School has approximately 1,000 undergraduate and 100 graduate students and has the largest student enrollment within the Bagley College of Engineering and 2nd largest within Mississippi State University.

Area of Specialization:

advanced manufacturing workforce development with an emphasis on machining technologies, manufacturing education, technical training, and industry engagement

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The following are representative examples of duties assigned to this position. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and additional related duties may be assigned as needed to meet the goals of the department.

• Lead the planning, implementation, deployment, and continuous improvement of the ACE Machining workforce development initiative.
• Coordinate delivery of Department of Defense-recognized machining certifications and workforce training programs.
• Develop, organize, and deliver hands-on machining bootcamps, workshops, short courses, and technical training events for students, industry personnel, educators, and community participants.
• Support the integration of advanced manufacturing certifications and experiential learning opportunities into Mechanical Engineering coursework.
• Manage and support ACE Hub operations, including coordination of community college and high school spoke locations throughout Mississippi and Tennessee.
• Establish and maintain relationships with industry partners, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and government agencies.
• Conduct industry visits to assess workforce needs, support industry engagement efforts, and identify future training opportunities.
• Recruit, schedule, and manage participants for workforce development programs, bootcamps, certifications, and outreach activities.
• Coordinate training logistics, equipment utilization, instructional resources, travel activities, and event planning.
• Track participant outcomes, maintain program records, collect workforce metrics, and prepare reports for sponsors and stakeholders.
• Support grant-funded workforce development initiatives through project coordination, reporting, performance monitoring, and stakeholder engagement.
• Assist with operation and maintenance coordination of training equipment used within ACE workforce development programs.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to support experiential learning opportunities and workforce development activities.
• Support K-12 outreach programs, educator workshops, STEM engagement activities, and manufacturing awareness initiatives.
• Represent Mississippi State University, the IDEELab, and the ACE Program at conferences, trade shows, workforce summits, and industry events.
• Assist with proposal development and identification of future workforce development funding opportunities.
• Support other workforce development, research, outreach, and industry engagement activities within the IDEELab as assigned.
• Perform other related duties necessary to support the academic, research, and workforce development mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Bagley College of Engineering.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or industrial engineering
• 3 years' experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with CNC machining, manufacturing operations, CAD/CAM, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and Mastercam
• Experience developing online learning content (Canvas).
• Experience working on IACMI federally funded workforce development or educational programs.
• Experience coordinating industry partnerships and workforce training programs.
• OSHA 10/30 and American Cutting Edge credentials.
• Experience organizing conferences, workshops, camps, or large-scale outreach events.
• Ability to travel throughout Mississippi and occasionally nationally to support workforce development activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience with CNC machining, manufacturing operations, CAD/CAM, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• OSHA 10/30, NIMS, SME, America's Cutting Edge, or related industry certifications.
• Experience delivering workforce development programs funded through federal, state, or industry sponsors.
• Experience managing multi-site educational or training programs.
• Experience working with community colleges, K-12 partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Mastercam, or similar manufacturing software.
• Experience coordinating workforce development metrics, reporting, and grant deliverables.
• Familiarity with manufacturing workforce needs within the defense industrial base.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Ability to navigate uncommon manufacturing environments including but not limited to industrial system rooms.
• Comfort with high and low temperature environments. During all seasons, the team will operate in non-climate-controlled manufacturing facilities.
• Comfort with heights including taking data while on the roof on industrial facilities.
• Experience with project management and working in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to configure software applications to meet specific needs and integrate software systems to enhance data transfer and extraction.
• Ability to integrate data from different sources to enable comprehensive analysis, and ability to create necessary forms to capture data from various stakeholders.
• Experience with maintaining data accuracy and generating data visualization.
• Knowledge and understanding of MSU policies and procedures, including knowledge of Concur and Banner systems, travel policies and procedures, and purchasing guidelines.
• Ability to excel in working with multiple cultures.

Instructions for Applying:

Applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu by submitting a cover letter and vitae.

Any social numbers included on requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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