Technical Program Manager

Job Description

Motive Workforce is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead complex electric marine, autonomy, and defense programs from early development through prototype builds, system integration, testing, demonstrations, and delivery.

This is a hands-on program leadership role for someone who understands complex hardware and software development and can coordinate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, suppliers, customers, and government partners. You will own the integrated program plan while working closely with technical teams across electric propulsion, battery systems, controls, autonomy, and mission systems.

What You'll Do

• Lead electric marine, autonomy, and defense programs from concept through prototype, testing, demonstration, and delivery.
• Own program scope, schedules, milestones, budgets, resources, dependencies, risks, and deliverables.
• Coordinate mechanical, electrical, software, autonomy, manufacturing, supply chain, and field teams.
• Drive system integration across battery systems, electric propulsion, vehicle controls, onboard networks, autonomy, navigation, and third-party payloads.
• Partner with engineering leads to define integration plans, test objectives, acceptance criteria, and readiness reviews.
• Lead prototype sprints, government test events, customer demonstrations, and milestone reviews.
• Manage government program deliverables, reporting, statements of work, milestone schedules, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate government-furnished equipment and third-party payload integration, including interface, power, data, and configuration requirements.
• Support proposals and capture efforts for defense and government programs.
• Coordinate bench, dockside, HIL, and on-water testing.
• Maintain clear program reporting covering schedule, technical risk, test results, open issues, and required decisions.
• Support prototype builds, sea trials, customer demonstrations, and field deployments.

Job Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Technical degree or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years leading complex hardware and software programs.
• Experience with electric propulsion, battery systems, vehicle controls, autonomy, robotics, marine, or defense platforms .
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional engineering programs through development, integration, testing, and delivery.
• Experience delivering hardware programs to government or defense customers under milestone-based agreements.
• Strong understanding of technical schedules, program risk, suppliers, testing, and system integration.
• Comfortable working directly with engineers and technical teams in a fast-moving development environment.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance .
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred Experience

• Active U.S. Secret clearance.
• Navy, maritime autonomy, USV, or defense program experience.
• Experience with OT agreements, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, CRADAs, FAR/DFARS, or other defense contracting mechanisms.
• Experience working with Navy warfare centers, program offices, or government test organizations.
• Integration of sensors, communications systems, payloads, or government-furnished equipment.
• On-water testing, sea trials, field demonstrations, or government test events.
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR, CUI, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC requirements.
• PMP, DAU, or similar program management credential.

Compensation

Base salary of $95,000-$144,000 , based on relevant experience, technical depth, program leadership background, and security clearance status.

The position also offers equity consideration, health and dental benefits, PTO, and additional company benefits.

This is a full-time onsite position in Southeast Michigan with travel up to 50% for prototype builds, system integration, testing, demonstrations, and field deployments.