Program Manager

longshot•Alameda, CA

11d•$120,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a Technical Program Manager to own the master schedule and drive execution across Longshot's hardware development programs. You will be the person who keeps every team, timeline, and dependency visible and on track as we move from development through testing and into production. This is not a process-for-process-sake role. You will be embedded with a small, fast-moving engineering team where the schedule is the single most important tool for keeping hardware, regulatory, and procurement workstreams aligned. You will own the critical path, chase action items to closure, flag risks before they become problems, and make sure leadership always knows where the program actually stands. If you thrive on bringing order to complex hardware programs and can credibly push back on an engineer's task estimate, this role is for you.

Requirements

2+ years of program or project management experience in aerospace, defense, or a comparable hardware environment.
Hands-on proficiency with work management software (Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, or similar).
Ability to read an engineering schedule, understand dependencies across hardware disciplines, and credibly discuss and push back on a task estimate with engineers.
Ability to obtain a security clearance.
Ability to work in an ITAR-controlled work environment.

Nice To Haves

A technical degree is preferred but not required.
A degree in Engineering, or another technical field.
PMP or CAPM certification.
Experience with hardware development programs.
Experience with launch vehicles, spacecraft, or propulsion systems.
Exposure to aerospace regulatory or export-control processes (e.g. FAA licensing, ITAR/EAR, environmental permitting, etc.).
Experience working in a startup or another fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.

Responsibilities

Own and maintain the program's master schedule (i.e. critical path, cross-project dependencies, milestones, and schedule margin). Keep it current and truthful, and make sure the team and leadership always know where the program actually stands.
Run the action-item and risk trackers. Chase open commitments to closure, and flag early when an item lands on the critical path or blocks downstream work.
Keep our long-lead regulatory approvals visible and moving. Maintain the milestone timelines and coordinate with regulatory counsel as they are engaged. Nobody owns this today; you will.
Track purchase orders, vendor lead times, and long-lead hardware (barrels, pressure vessels, ground support equipment). Expedite where needed to protect the critical path.
Keep program status current and legible. Support program reviews and sustain coordination that keeps a small team aligned.