Engineering Project Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Engineering Project Manager – Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Job Description

This role leads the end-to-end engineering project management of advanced Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (VTOL UAS), guiding complex hardware products from initial proposal through successful production launch. Reporting to the Chief Engineer, you will drive multiple cross-functional engineering teams, own the master project schedule, and manage risk across the full product lifecycle. This position is 100% onsite and offers the opportunity to directly influence revenue and help shape the next generation of unmanned flight.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain the master engineering project schedule, covering projects of all sizes and complexity across all phases, from proposal and planning through execution and completion.
• Develop, maintain, and manage a comprehensive risks and issues register, ensuring that all project risks and issues are identified, documented, and actively managed.
• Lead weekly goal setting for project teams and track progress, using frequent, focused, small meetings while minimizing large group meeting time.
• Ensure all necessary engineering deliverables and coordination are fully captured in project activities, including approvals, bills of materials (BOM), drawing releases, work-instruction development, configuration control, hardware lead times, inspections, manufacturing trials, manufacturing tool kits, parts kits, verification testing, and reporting.
• Identify and track project risks and issues, determine dependencies and priorities, and drive ownership assignment and mitigation activities through resolution.
• Forecast, identify, and remove obstacles that could impede project progress so that engineering teams can maintain focus on core deliverables with minimal delays.
• Develop work breakdown structures (WBS) using team member input and supplement them with any missing fundamental steps required to achieve project deliverables.
• Analyze project plans to identify high-level milestones, dependencies, critical path, free slack, resource utilization, risks and issues, and cost implications.
• Prepare and deliver weekly status briefs and materials for project reviews, clearly communicating schedule, risks, issues, and progress to stakeholders.
• Maintain a prioritized list of backlog projects and efforts, ensuring regular review and disposition of priorities.
• Develop and continually improve the engineering project management function, including processes, tools, and best practices.
• Coordinate and perform hands-on technical work as needed, including engineering change (EC) documentation and technical or administrative tasks not otherwise assigned to the project team.
• Manage multiple engineering projects and project teams through all phases of the design and development cycle, particularly in aerospace and hardware product development environments.
• Support the full product development lifecycle, including design, drawing release, supplier selection, sourcing and testing prototypes, resolving pre-production issues, and driving successful production launch.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline.
• 10+ years of professional experience combining product development engineering and project management responsibilities.
• At least 5+ years of experience as a product development engineer, performing development engineering and leading hardware products through multiple phases of the engineering development cycle, including design, drawing release, supplier selection, prototype sourcing and testing, resolution of pre-production issues, and successful production launch.
• At least 5+ years of experience as a project manager, managing multiple engineering projects and project teams through all phases of the design and development cycle.
• Demonstrated experience in producing integrated project schedules and reports using Microsoft Project or a similar project management system.
• Ability to identify and manage dependencies, critical path, free slack, resource utilization, cost, and project risks and issues within complex engineering programs.
• Strong background in project management across the full project life cycle, especially in product development and aerospace engineering contexts.
• Experience with engineering change management and configuration control for complex hardware products.
• Technical familiarity with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including basic knowledge of their subsystems and underlying technologies.
• Proficiency with scheduling tools and methods for planning, tracking, and reporting on engineering projects.
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams, set clear goals, and drive accountability to meet schedule, cost, and quality targets.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with PDM and ERP systems to support engineering, manufacturing, and configuration management processes.
• Experience managing or supporting software development projects in compliance with DO-178 certification standards for airborne systems.
• Exposure to aerospace design and development environments, including integration of mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems.
• Hands-on experience with technical documentation, including engineering change (EC) documentation and project reporting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to create concise status briefs and present project information to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to continually refine and improve project management processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency and predictability.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, innovation-driven environments focused on cutting-edge unmanned aircraft systems.

Work Environment

This position is based 100% onsite in Bingen, WA, with the potential to transition into a hybrid arrangement after approximately 2–3 months, depending on performance and business needs. You will work in an engineering-focused environment developing advanced VTOL unmanned aircraft systems, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams spanning design, manufacturing, and testing. The role relies heavily on digital project management tools such as Microsoft Project and PDM/ERP systems, as well as standard engineering and configuration management tools. The work setting emphasizes structured project execution, disciplined engineering processes, and close coordination between technical and operational teams to support the full product lifecycle from concept through production

This is a Permanent position based out of Bingen, WA.

The pay range for this position is $143000.00 - $229000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

- Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)- Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.- Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.

This is a fully onsite position in Bingen,WA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.