Senior Technical Program Manager

Elroy Air • Byron, CA

21d • $175,000 - $210,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Elroy Air is hiring a Senior Technical Program Manager to lead end-to-end program execution for autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft. The role focuses on complex hardware and software integration across aircraft subsystems, including propulsion, powertrain, avionics, flight controls, and ground support systems. The TPM will own integrated schedules, critical-path dependencies, technical risk management, and cross-functional delivery from early design and flight test through production ramp and certification milestones.

This is a hybrid role based out of the Byron, California office. On-site presence varies with program milestones and build cycles: during active build, assembly, and integration, the role may require working at the facility up to four or five days per week; during desk-heavy phases, the schedule averages around two on-site days per week. Some travel to flight test facilities and partner locations is required. The position is a senior individual contributor role and pays $175,000–$210,000 per year.

The successful candidate will guide prototype build, bring-up, and integration; coordinate engineering and manufacturing teams; communicate program status to leadership, partners, and customers; and develop practical program management processes appropriate for aerospace safety and quality requirements. Program work must align with applicable aerospace certification pathways and standards, including FAA and Military Airworthiness requirements, AS9100, DO-178C, DO-254, and ITAR/EAR export controls. Employment offers are conditioned on any required authorization to access export-controlled software or technology. All employees are screened through E-Verify.

Requirements

• At least 6 years of technical program management experience delivering complex hardware, software, or integrated electro-mechanical systems in aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary engineering programs through the full lifecycle, from concept trade studies to flight test and rate production.
• Deep technical literacy across hardware engineering, software development lifecycles, systems engineering, and flight test operations.
• Proficiency with modern program management tools and methodologies; examples listed include Jira, Confluence, MS Project, and Smartsheet.
• Ability to influence without authority, lead cross-functional engineering teams, and drive technical consensus in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk-management capabilities, with a focus on metrics-driven progress tracking.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, or Systems) or a related technical discipline.
• Solutions-oriented approach and ability to build lean, effective processes in unstructured environments.
• Ability to obtain any authorization required to access export-controlled software or technology necessary for the role.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing VTOL, UAV, or electric/hybrid-electric aircraft programs.
• Familiarity with FAA or civil airworthiness certification processes, ARP4754A, DO-178C, DO-254, and AS9100 standards.
• Hands-on experience with flight testing or flight hardware qualification.
• Experience scaling technical program management functions at high-growth engineering startups or aerospace primes.

Responsibilities

• Own execution of prototype build, bring-up, and end-to-end integration for the primary test platform, including hardware/software tuning, system integration, and risk reduction ahead of flight test.
• Establish, manage, and track integrated master schedules across hardware, software, and systems engineering to meet flight test and certification milestones.
• Identify critical-path risks, system interdependencies, and technical bottlenecks; facilitate trade studies, risk burn-down strategies, and architectural alignment.
• Coordinate Mechanical, Electrical, Flight Controls, Software, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain engineering teams from prototype build through flight test and production.
• Lead program reviews and planning, and report schedule status, blocker resolution, and risk metrics to leadership, external partners, and customers.
• Develop scalable program management practices, requirement-tracking frameworks, change-management controls, and reporting dashboards.
• Align program milestones with aerospace certification pathways and quality standards, including FAA, Military Airworthiness, AS9100, DO-178C, DO-254, and ITAR/EAR export controls.

What This Job Offers

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