Technical Program Manager, NPI

Technical Program Manager, NPI

Torrance, California, United States

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America's drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

Are you a highly organized Technical Program Manager who thrives at the intersection of engineering and manufacturing operations? Neros is seeking a TPM to drive execution and alignment across our New Product Introduction (NPI) programs, ensuring products move efficiently from development builds to production ramp. You will own program execution across multiple teams by driving schedules, coordinating readiness activities, resolving cross-functional blockers, and ensuring critical manufacturing milestones are achieved on time. This role reports to the Head of NPI & Test and will be instrumental in helping Neros scale from rapid development builds to reliable, repeatable production.

You should have the following:

• NPI Program Management: Own and maintain the NPI master schedule, tracking milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical path items from prototype builds through production ramp
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Drive alignment across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Production teams to ensure successful product introduction and readiness
• Executive Reporting & NPI Reviews: Organize and lead weekly NPI status reviews, consolidating program updates, action items, risks, and escalation topics for leadership visibility
• Manufacturing and Build Readiness: Coordinate Manufacturing and Build Readiness Reviews, ensuring deliverables, line readiness activities, staffing plans, tooling, documentation, and training are completed on schedule
• ECO & Change Management: Facilitate Engineering Change Order (ECO) implementation, communicate production impacts, track execution, and coordinate cross-functional actions required for deployment
• Build Execution Support: Monitor daily manufacturing, test, quality, and supply chain issues during NPI builds, driving rapid resolution and escalating blockers when needed
• Tooling & Equipment Procurement: Coordinate procurement and deployment of NPI tooling, fixtures, test equipment, spare parts, and factory resources identified by engineering teams
• Firmware Release Coordination: Manage production firmware control-runs, ensuring alignment between Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Production teams regarding releases and implementation plans
• Production Ramp, Handoff & Risk Management: Track NPI-to-PVT transition readiness and ownership transfers, while identifying program risks, driving mitigation plans, and maintaining clear cross-functional communication on execution status and ramp health

Nice to have:

• Drone, Aerospace, Robotics, or Consumer Electronics Experience: Experience supporting fast-paced hardware development and manufacturing environments
• Factory Ramp Experience: Direct involvement in DVT, PVT, MP, and production ramp activities
• Supply Chain Exposure: Familiarity with procurement, production planning, inventory management, and supplier readiness activities
• Quality Systems Knowledge: Understanding of PFMEA, control plans, manufacturing validation, yield improvement, and corrective action processes
• Technical Background: Ability to understand engineering discussions involving hardware, software, manufacturing, and test systems
• Lean Manufacturing: Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies to improve execution efficiency

US Salary Range

$79,000 - $110,500 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We're an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.