R&D Associate Project Manager

At ABB , we help industries run leaner and cleaner-and every person here makes that happen. You'll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:
R&D Department/Local Unit Lead

__

Your role and responsibilities

In this role, you will have the opportunity to create products, systems, services, or technologies for ABB's business units. Each day, you will lead and facilitate the execution of one or more Research and Development (R&D) sub-projects of limited complexity. You will also showcase your expertise by achieving associated milestones, targets, and desired outcomes.

The work model for the role is: #LI-onsite

This role is contributing to the Electrification Distribution Solutions in Mebane, NC.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Lead new product development projects for medium-voltage switchgear and related power distribution equipment from concept through launch, defining scope, deliverables, timelines, and priorities.
• Develop and manage project plans, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and mitigation actions to keep projects on time, within scope, and aligned with cost, quality, and performance targets.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams across R&D, Product Management, Supply Chain, Laboratory, Operations, Quality, Sourcing, and manufacturing partners to support execution and maintain milestone alignment.
• Manage deliverables through design reviews and engineering changes, and support timely completion of technical documentation required for product release.
• Coordinate prototype builds, design verification, qualification testing, and factory introduction activities to support transfer from R&D to manufacturing and production readiness.
• Prepare project status updates, key decisions, risks, and recovery plans for leadership, and lead milestone or stage-gate reviews.

Qualifications for the role

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in R&D, project management, or product development within medium-voltage switchgear, power distribution equipment, or a similar complex industry.
• Demonstrated project coordination skills, including scope tracking, schedule management, and milestone follow-up on cross-functional new product development projects.
• Travel up to 10%, domestically and internationally, to support supplier coordination, factory activities, testing, and project reviews.
• Exposure to product validation activities for medium-voltage equipment, including prototype evaluation, design verification, or qualification testing, is preferred.
• Ability to collaborate with suppliers, operations, quality, and manufacturing engineering to support component readiness and production transfer.
• Working knowledge of medium-voltage industry standards and compliance requirements is preferred, including ANSI, IEEE, NEMA, CSA, UL, or similar specifications.
• Candidate m ust be authorized to work for ABB in the United States.

What's in it for you

We want you to bring your full self to work-your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You'll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.

ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.

For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites:

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.

Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to [email protected] . Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner. #LI-Onsite

ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees

[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]

Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on "Candidate/Guest" to learn more

Health, Life & Disability

• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D - 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability - up to 26 weeks - Company paid
• Long Term Disability - 60% of pay - Company paid. Ability to "buy-up" to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits - 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Parental Leave - up to 6 weeks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Retirement

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Time off

ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.

More about us

ABB's Distribution Solutions Division facilitates the efficient and reliable distribution, protection and control of power by improving electric power quality while strengthening the resilience of the grid. The Division offers segment-specific products and solutions that largely serve utilities, industry and infrastructure segments, often providing the requisite medium voltage link between high-voltage transmission systems and low-voltage users. With ABB Ability™ enabled connected solutions at its core, the offering includes medium-voltage air- and gas-insulated switchgear (1 to 66 kilovolts), indoor and outdoor circuit breakers, reclosers, fuses, contactors, relays, instrument transformers, sensors, motor control centers, as well as low-voltage switchgear for the ANSI standard markets.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.