Technical Program Manager

Technical Program Manager

Department: Program Management


Level: IC2 Mid to IC3 Senior


Location: Waynesboro, VA / hybrid


Reports To: COO


Employment Type: Full-Time

Role Summary

The Technical Program Manager coordinates the end-to-end execution of cross-functional engineering and development programs. You will steer complex programs through highly ambiguous environments, translating high-level business goals into actionable technical milestones from rapid prototyping through final production. Additionally, you will take ownership of customer-focused initiatives, monitor program performance metrics, and manage P&Ls to ensure successful delivery of cutting-edge solutions.


Core Responsibilities

- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of cross-functional engineering programs from rapid prototyping through final production.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance, to achieve program objectives and ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
- Work closely with hardware and software engineering teams to translate high-level business goals into actionable technical milestones.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, providing updates on progress, risks, and performance.
- Address customer field issues, including field repairs and technical support, ensuring prompt resolution and building strong relationships with stakeholders.
- Identify and mitigate risks, conduct root cause analyses, and act swiftly to unblock teams before bottlenecks impact the schedule.
- Provide clear, concise, and transparent updates to executive leadership, engineering teams, and external partners while actively monitoring program performance metrics.
- Drive engineering progress and help define project scope in a fast-paced environment where initial requirements are often fluid, evolving, or unclear.
- Manage budgets and P&Ls, ensuring financial goals are met and adjustments align with objectives.
- Simultaneously manage multiple, concurrent projects, expertly balancing competing resources, tight timelines, and shifting business priorities.


Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field
- [5+] years of direct experience leading and managing complex technical programs or projects.
- Proven ability to thrive in a high-velocity, start-up style development environment, remaining flexible and decisive when faced with ambiguity.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams, influence stakeholders effectively, and negotiate resource allocation without direct reporting authority.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex, shifting technical situations into clear action plans.
- Proven analytical and strategic problem-solving skills


Preferred Qualifications

- Prior experience working in the Aerospace industry (e.g., aviation, space, defense, or UAS).
- Understanding of aerospace development standards and certification processes (e.g., AS9100, DO-160, DO-178C, DO-254) and how to apply them pragmatically in a fast-paced setting.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent Agile/Scrum credentials.
- Familiarity with New Product Development processes and staged design milestones (e.g., PDR, CDR).
- Proficiency with modern program management and issue-tracking tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project, Smartsheet, Confluence)