Associate Technical Program Manager - Mission Integration
About The Position
A venture-backed defense-technology startup building autonomous aerial systems for defense customers is standing up a new Mission Integration function, and this is the entry-level seat on that team. Mission Integration owns the downstream end of technical program management for the company's aerial platforms: everything from a system's first flight through handoff to the customer training teams. The mandate is to keep programs on schedule, keep engineering and the growth (sales) side aligned, and make sure each platform is genuinely ready for the mission the customer needs. The function exists to close a widening gap between engineering reality and what growth is selling. The Associate TPM works from the engineering side to make sure everyone understands where systems actually stand today, and that this reality is reflected in the commitments and timelines the company agrees to. This is not an engineering role. The job is to understand how engineers work and speak their language, not to do the engineering. It sits between the product manager (who sets direction on what to build) and delivery: the product manager decides what gets built, Mission Integration gets it done. Expect to live in Gantt charts and schedules, and also to get hands-on with the systems in the field, including flying them. Several platforms are already fielded and more are in development, so this function is scaling with the product line.
Requirements
- Some operational experience and some program / project management experience, ideally including time in the military. This role is well suited to a recently transitioning veteran.
- At least one area of technical expertise relevant to the product. That can be software or hardware, and can come from unmanned systems, robotics, aviation (manned aviation counts), aerospace, mechanical engineering, or a recon / ISR background.
- Ability to work with engineers and speak their language without needing to do the engineering.
- Strong organization and the discipline to keep multiple schedules and priorities on track.
- Comfort in a fast-scaling startup where the role evolves as the product matures.
Nice To Haves
- Defense-tech background.
- Experience with unmanned systems, ISR, robotics, or aviation.
- Agricultural-drone experience (sprayer / agricultural drone operators map well to this work and to the field environment).
- Familiarity with growth-stage company dynamics.
- Willingness to travel abroad occasionally (roughly semi-annual at most) to get hands-on with real customers and real applications is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Own the downstream program management for a platform: from first flight through handoff to the customer training and demo teams.
- Keep schedules on track and drive programs to their milestones.
- Keep engineering and growth aligned so that sales commitments and delivery timelines reflect the true state of each system.
- Support the handoff to customer support, training, and demo teams as new products launch, largely at exercises around the US.
- Review statements of work and partner with the growth team so that contracts reflect engineering reality.
- Get hands-on with the platforms in the field, including flying them.
- Translate what happens in the field back to the engineering and product teams.
- Work day to day with software developers, product managers, flight test engineers, flight test pilots, and hardware development engineers on the engineering side; and with customer support, training, demo teams, and engagement managers on the delivery side.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
