Head of Technical Programme Management

Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway — financial, regulatory, and literal — to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship. If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Culture That Ships

Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.

Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.

Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

As a Technical Director for Uncrewed Aerial Systems at Atropos, you will serve as engineering leadership for our hardware engineering organization. This group is responsible for the hardware engineering disciplines in the design of uncrewed aerial systems, including conceptual and configuration design, aero performance, mechanical systems, structures design and analysis, propulsion integration, and electrical engineering efforts.

Areas of responsibility include the end‑to‑end development of aircraft, from conceptual development to detailed design to include designing for scaled manufacturing, and designing for flight test and certification. You are hired for your ability to trust your intuition and prior experience in key technical decisions in order to be decisive in making the right design/analysis/ and test decisions, as well as roadmapping the program’s future engineering path.

Find, hire, manage, and mentor the team of internal and external subject matter experts, and communicate that vision to them.

Partner closely with the business lines in areas of proposal capture, customer interface, resource planning, capital expenditures and program schedules.

Manage the detailed design of the system and subsystems including requirements development, sub‑system trades and optimization, risk management to ensure the appropriate consideration of design key performance parameters, schedule, costs and risks.

Own the overall model/drawing/documentation package required for initial build and effective production transition.

Early previous baseline experience in any of the following disciplines you will be managing.

10+ years of real experience in a senior role leading air vehicle programs from initial concept through test and delivery to customers.

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Software engineering, or equivalent experience in a relevant field.

Experience in building teams from 0 to 1, and leading teams in fast‑paced programs.

Top Secret security clearance.

Bonus Points

Experience in end‑to‑end aircraft development, from design through certification.

Actual salary offer 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 included in the majority of full time offers; Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you.

Basic Life/AD&D and long‑term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.

20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.

Additional work‑life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well.

Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses.

Company‑funded child care stipend.

Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).

401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.