Project Management Specialist

~6 months initial contract, 40 hours/week Pay range: $50-70/hr. Our client is a defense technology company on a mission to transform capabilities with advanced technology. Defense tech just had its biggest venture funding year ever, and 2026 opened near record highs — investors have poured billions in, and the sector keeps smashing its own records. This is an exciting opportunity to jump into a category that’s rapidly hiring, well-capitalized, and not slowing down. The opportunity Our client's Design team builds the physical show models and prototypes of the company's products — the hardware you see on their site, at trade shows, and in their showrooms. Think Autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, robotics, drones - for someone who wants their work to touch the physical world, this is a great opportunity to see work come to life. Right now, the team that produces these builds doesn't have a dedicated project manager keeping things on track. This contract role comes in to be that person: taking the logistical and coordination load off the builders so they can focus on the work. You'd partner closely with industrial design, operations, creative, and engineers, helping move projects along from concept through delivery. What you'll do Coordinate and track prototype and show-model projects end to end, keeping timelines, logistics, and hand-offs moving Support the build team day to day — the "single point of contact" who keeps projects honest and on schedule Manage vendor relationships (e.g., print producers and fabrication partners) for new builds and refurbishments Help track and tag hardware, prototypes, and show models, and flag risks before they become problems Coordinate the logistics of getting show models to trade shows, events, and showrooms Keep internal stakeholders informed and turn meeting notes into clear next steps What we’re looking for Experience coordinating or project-managing physical products, hardware, or. similar Comfort in a fast-moving, iterative environment where priorities shift Strong organization and communication; a self-starter who’s happy to be the connective tissue across a team Someone who can work fully on-site in Costa Mesa Backgrounds that could be a fit Show-model and prototyping experience is niche, so the door is open to adjacent paths, including: Coordinators / PMs from physical products, computer-hardware, or similar environments People from experiential, trade-show, or brand-activation / pop-up work — especially if they've been responsible for physical product on a show floor Anyone with a genuine feel for how physical products get built, and a little exposure to how engineering brings a design to life #J-18808-Ljbffr