Technical Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position OverviewTitle: Technical Program Manager Position OverviewTitle: Technical Program Manager Company: Wild West SystemsLocation: Leander, TXEmployment Type: Full-time Company Overview Wild West Systems is an American defense technology company with the mission to equip the civilized world with superior and affordable arms and advanced technologies to dominate the battlefield of present and future threats in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. We fuse versatile domain experience with novel approach and creativity to change the paradigm of defense - both for military arenas and civilian soft targets. We're an early-stage startup, rapidly moving and growing. Position Profile WWS is seeking a Technical Program Manager to serve as the primary integration point between engineering execution and program/contract delivery. This is a hybrid role for someone who can own a program's schedule, budget, and customer relationship while also being technically credible enough to sit in design reviews, understand engineering trade-offs, and help the team make sound technical-schedule decisions. You'll be the person who keeps hardware programs - from early development through test and delivery - on track, on budget, and aligned to contract requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesProgram ManagementOwn program schedule, budget (EVM or lightweight equivalent), risk register, and deliverables across one or more counter-UAS / kinetic effector programsServe as primary customer POC for program status, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and deliverable reviewsManage subcontractors, vendors, and supply chain dependencies against program milestonesPrepare and present program reviews (internal and customer-facing), including CDRLs, status reports, and risk mitigation plansManage contract compliance (CPFF, FFP, OTA) in coordination with contracts/financeProgram Engineering ManagementPartner directly with engineering leads on system architecture, design maturity, and technical risk trackingTranslate engineering realities (test failures, design changes, supply chain substitutions) into schedule/cost impact assessmentsDrive requirements management and verification/validation planning (test plans, acceptance criteria)Participate in design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR) as a technical stakeholder, not just a scribeIdentify and resolve conflicts between engineering scope creep and program baselineCompliance & ProcessEnsure program execution aligns with ITAR/EAR, CMMC, and DFARS requirements as applicableSupport proposal development and capture activities with realistic technical/schedule inputsMaintain configuration management and documentation discipline across the program lifecycleRequired Qualifications5+ years in defense program management, systems engineering, or a hybrid PM/engineering roleDemonstrated experience managing hardware development programs (not pure software/IT)Working knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, CDRLs, and contract typesAbility to read and engage with engineering drawings, test data, and technical requirements documentsU.S. CitizenPreferred QualificationsExperience with counter-UAS, munitions, kinetic effectors, or related weapons systems programsPMP or equivalent certificationFamiliarity with CMMC Level 2 requirements and FFL/FEL-regulated environmentsPrior startup or small-defense-contractor experience (comfort with ambiguity and wearing multiple hats)