Senior Technical Program Manager

Furientis • Los Angeles, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Furientis is developing cost-effective, high-production-rate interceptor missiles to address a shortage in U.S. defensive munitions. The Senior Technical Program Manager owns commitments for assigned programs to government customers, company partners, and vendors, ensuring delivery by contracted dates. This is a technical role requiring a deep understanding of the product to evaluate engineering plans and technical risk, translate customer requirements for engineering teams, and represent programs directly to customers.

The role offers significant ownership and autonomy, with broad latitude in planning and running programs and direct accountability for results. It reports to program leadership and is based on-site at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters, with travel to Mojave, test sites, customers, and vendors. Monthly weekend travel is expected for test events and supplier engagements. The position requires eligibility to access ITAR-controlled information; candidates must be U.S. persons. A security clearance is not required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on technical experience.
• At least 5 years of experience on complex engineering programs.
• Program or mission management experience on complex hardware programs, with direct ownership of cost, schedule, and deliverables.
• Experience in a high-pressure, rapid R&D environment, such as SpaceX or a comparable organization.
• A record of delivering hardware programs to committed dates.
• Working knowledge of how the U.S. government buys, contracts for, and fields defense systems.
• Ability to learn the product in depth and earn the trust of senior engineers.
• Clear written and verbal communication with engineers, executives, customers, and vendors, including technical writing.
• Must be a U.S. person and eligible to access export-controlled information.
• Ability to work on-site at the Los Angeles headquarters; remote work is not available.
• Availability for monthly weekend travel for test events and supplier engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience at another deep tech startup.
• Experience as an engineer on complex hardware systems, especially missile, launch vehicle, spacecraft, or other aerospace and defense systems.
• Experience managing government contracts, including FAR-based contracts and Other Transaction Agreements.
• Experience taking hardware from R&D into production.
• An active security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own contracted customer deliverables, including hardware, test events, reports, contract data requirements, and technical data packages.
• Translate contract requirements and customer requests into clear engineering priorities and tasks.
• Lead requirements breakdown, support design reviews, and manage technical and contract changes.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules and budgets from contract award through delivery, and drive delivery to contracted dates.
• Identify technical and schedule risks, work through tradeoffs with engineers, and lead risks to resolution.
• Serve as the program contact for assigned customers and lead technical reviews, status updates, and milestone discussions.
• Work with the Business Development team to shape and identify follow-on work.
• Support proposal development and contract negotiations, ensuring scope, price, and schedule are achievable and terms meet FAR and DFARS requirements.
• Use and improve lightweight planning and reporting processes that provide leadership with a clear view of program status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior