Project Manager

About this role

Project Manager

Operations - Austin, Texas

About HydroGraph

HydroGraph is a hyper-growth advanced materials company scaling pristine, high-performance graphene via its patented Hyperion detonation technology. With more than 70 active commercial projects, a growing global footprint, and industry-leading material quality (99.8% pure graphene), HydroGraph is building the next generation of engineered materials for coatings, composites, and energy storage.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Project Manager - Operations to plan, budget, and drive execution of projects across our Advanced Manufacturing organization. This role manages new product introduction (NPI) projects identified by the business, new designs and significant improvements identified by Operations, and facility improvement and site expansion projects. The Project Manager partners with technical teams as well as business and marketing stakeholders to ensure requirements are clearly defined, documented, and met, escalating and driving collaboration when projects fall off track, and keeping stakeholders informed as project scope, market, and technical feasibility understanding evolves.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional project teams and coordinate activities across multiple departments including R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Sales.
• Work with teams and supply chain to develop budgets and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for samples and full-rate production.
• Report out to Leadership on project status and spend.
• Develop and maintain project timelines across new product introduction, new design/improvement, and facility improvement projects; escalate and drive resolution when projects fall off track.
• Document project history and key decisions at each phase of the project.
• Partner with business and marketing stakeholders, in addition to technical teams, to ensure project requirements are clearly defined, agreed upon, and met.
• Document and communicate changes to project requirements, ensuring stakeholder agreement and awareness.
• Keep stakeholders informed as market and technical feasibility understanding evolves throughout the project.
• Identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies and action plans, document and maintain risk registers.
• Manage timelines and coordination for internal team members and external partners, including vendors and suppliers.
• Support site expansion projects as needed.
• Apply Stage-Gate process methodology to guide projects through defined phases and gate reviews, ensuring appropriate documentation and stakeholder sign-off at each stage.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree, or 10+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of project management experience
• Experience managing project budgets, timelines, and ROM cost estimates
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across technical, business, and marketing teams
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies such as Stage-Gate
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with project management software and tools (Wrike, MS Project, SmartSheets, etc)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio, Teams

Preferred

• Background in construction, manufacturing, or industrial/materials environments (not IT or Finance)
• PMP Certification
• Experience with facility or site expansion projects
• Knowledge of portfolio management and program management principles

Key Competencies

• Managing and leading thru influence
• Leadership and team motivation
• Accountability and ownership mindset
• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Stakeholder management and relationship building
• Conflict resolution and negotiation
• Adaptability and flexibility in dynamic environments
• Decision-making under uncertainty
• Attention to detail and quality focus
• Customer service orientation
• Emotional intelligence and active listening
• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving

Work Environment

This role operates in an active chemical/process manufacturing environment and requires regular presence on the plant floor. The engineer will be exposed to industrial equipment, chemical agents, and process systems, and must adhere to all applicable safety protocols at all times.

• Environment: Indoor and outdoor process/chemical plant settings; exposure to heat, noise, fumes, and moving machinery is expected. Must be able to occasionally work outdoors in varying weather conditions to operate valves and manage chemical feedstock supply lines, following all chemical handling and site safety protocols.
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift. Frequent lifting and carrying of equipment, tools, or materials up to 20 lbs; occasional lifting up to 50 lbs with assistance.
• Working at Heights: Must be able to occasionally work at elevations up to 15 ft when troubleshooting and maintaining process equipment, utilizing ladders, platforms, scissor lift or elevated walkways in accordance with site safety requirements.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use of PPE is mandatory in designated areas, including but not limited to safety glasses, hard hat, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, respiratory protection (breathing mask/respirator) when working in areas with chemical exposure or poor ventilation, and fall protection equipment (full-body harness and lanyard) when working at elevated heights.
• Schedule: Standard business hours, Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend or off-hours work may be required to support planned maintenance, shutdowns, startups, or urgent production challenges.
• Travel: May require occasional travel to other production facilities, client locations, or vendor facilities.

Why Join HydroGraph

• Lead the core scientific engine of one of the fastest-growing graphene companies in the world.
• Shape a next-generation materials platform used across aerospace, energy, infrastructure, consumer goods, and defense.
• Work directly with global partners and world-class advisors (GEIC, OEMs, DoD).
• Competitive compensation, and career advancement as the company scales.