Lumai - Project Manager
Requirements
• Must-Have • 5+ years of project or programme management experience, with at least 2 years in a hardware or deep tech environment (semiconductor, photonics, robotics, aerospace, or similar) • Demonstrated ability to manage complex multi-disciplinary projects with hardware and software components running in parallel • Strong working knowledge of hardware development lifecycles — EVT/DVT/PVT, tapeout cycles, NRE structures, BOM management, and CM relationships • Experience tracking ASIC or PCB development schedules, including foundry and packaging supply chains with long and uncertain lead times • Exceptional written and verbal communication — able to translate technical complexity for both engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders • Proficient with modern project management tooling (e.g. Jira, Linear, Notion, Asana, or similar); comfortable designing workflows rather than just following them • Comfortable with ambiguity and able to drive structure into early-stage programmes where requirements and dependencies are still evolving • Strong stakeholder management skills — able to hold peers accountable, push back constructively, and build trust across functions • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or a technical field; or equivalent industry experience • Strong Preference For • Experience at a deep tech startup or scale-up during a period of rapid growth or first product launch • Familiarity with photonics, silicon photonics, or custom ASIC development workflows • Exposure to AI/ML product delivery — understanding of model training cycles, inference infrastructure, or SDK/API release processes • PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent certification; or experience with Agile/SAFe frameworks applied to hardware contexts • Experience managing external design houses, IP licensors, or EMS/CM relationships through prototype builds • Prior experience supporting investor reporting, board updates, or milestone-based funding milestones • Hands-on curiosity about the technology — comfortable spending time in the lab or with the engineering team to understand what is actually being built
Responsibilities
• Own the end-to-end delivery of Lumai's core engineering programmes, including hardware development milestones (EVT/DVT/PVT), firmware bring-up, and AI software integration cycles • Build and maintain detailed project plans, risk registers, and dependency maps across hardware, ASIC, photonics, firmware, and software workstreams • Run structured weekly programme reviews and steering meetings; produce clear, concise status reporting for leadership and investors • Identify and actively manage programme risks and blockers — escalating early, proposing mitigations, and driving decisions to resolution • Coordinate closely with supply chain, procurement, and external vendors (CM, foundry, packaging partners) to track NRE milestones, tapeout schedules, and prototype deliveries • Maintain a single source of truth for programme status, decisions, and actions — driving accountability without creating bureaucracy • Support resource planning and headcount prioritisation across teams, flagging capacity conflicts before they become critical path issues • Facilitate cross-functional alignment between hardware engineers, firmware developers, AI/ML researchers, and business stakeholders with differing cadences and vocabulary • Contribute to continuous improvement of Lumai's engineering operating model — proposing better processes, templates, and tooling as the team scales
Benefits
• Highly Competitive Salary: We are not saying our salary is a blank check, but let's just say it won't be a source of your stress • Pension Scheme: Plan for retirement with AVIVA • Pension Scheme: • Private Health Insurance: We firmly believe that you come first, and a happy you is a healthy you! Look after yourself and your loved ones with AXA • Private Health Insurance: • Cycle to Work: Spread the cost of a bike, a bike and accessories or just accessories and save on tax • Cycle to Work: • L&D Allowance: Stay at the forefront of your field with a £500 annual development budget • L&D Allowance: • Subsidised On-site Lunches: Enjoy on-site healthy meals at half the price, as Lumai covers 50% of the cost • Subsidised On-site Lunches: • Holidays: Enjoy some deserved "me time" with 25 days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) per year • Holidays:
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