Staff Technical Program Manager

Anduril • Costa Mesa, CA

10h • $191,000 - $254,000

About The Position

The Staff Technical Program Manager will drive hardware design and development across several of Connected Warfare’s largest programs. The role combines technical expertise, program management, customer focus, and understanding of the defense sector and military systems. The position works closely with engineering, product, business, and government stakeholders to deliver solutions for customers and partners.

The Connected Warfare Division integrates advanced computing, AI-driven decision-making, and warfighter-focused technology into connected, multi-domain systems. Within its Warfighter Systems business line, the company develops wearable technology, immersive mission-command tools, and integrated software and hardware, including the Eagle Eye headset and helmet system.

The role manages program schedules, resources, risks, stakeholder relationships, and cross-functional coordination while supporting engineering teams with technical trade-offs. It also ensures compliance with applicable industry standards and government regulations, improves program processes, and develops knowledge repositories and CI/CD pipelines to support production-quality engineering deliverables. Travel may be required up to 25%.

Requirements

• At least 8 years managing complex hardware development programs through all phases of the hardware development cycle.
• At least 8 years of experience as a Technical Program Manager, Product Manager, Engineering Manager, or Engineer at a commercial technology or aerospace and defense company.
• Hands-on experience leading development of wearable, near-eye display systems, including head-mounted devices, AR/VR systems, or helmet-integrated platforms.
• Experience leading end-to-end hardware device development across the full product development lifecycle, from concept and architecture definition through production validation and field deployment.
• Strong technical background and familiarity with hardware and software systems engineering.
• Experience managing engineering budgets and trade-offs to optimize a complex system.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear business-impacting insights.
• Experience leading the full development lifecycle of a hardware product or critical hardware subsystem.
• Proven experience in component sourcing and vendor management.
• Willingness to travel as needed, up to 25%.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to work with minimal structure and direction, creating clarity from ambiguity.
• Track record designing and implementing best practices that drive operational efficiency and sustainable growth in nascent technologies and businesses.
• Strong technical, analytical, and quantitative skills, including using data and metrics to support assumptions and recommendations and drive decisions.
• Familiarity with defense-industry compliance and reporting requirements.
• Advanced degree in an engineering discipline.

Responsibilities

• Align program schedules, manage timelines, and allocate resources to ensure successful delivery and production quality.
• Balance competing priorities across multiple products and programs in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Serve as the primary liaison among research, engineering, product management, and external stakeholders, including defense contractors and government entities.
• Align cross-functional teams on goals, dependencies, and deliverables, and foster communication across distributed teams and locations.
• Understand system architecture, dependencies, and technical challenges; support engineering teams in resolving issues and making trade-offs to meet division objectives.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and government regulations, including ITAR and RMF.
• Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and compliance risks; monitor dependencies, anticipate bottlenecks, and adjust plans to maintain program momentum.
• Manage relationships with suppliers, customers, partners, and government agencies, aligning programs with contractual obligations and stakeholder expectations.
• Prepare and deliver program updates, technical briefs, and performance reports for internal and external audiences.
• Implement and refine processes to improve program execution and efficiency, adapting program-management best practices to the defense sector and startup environment.
• Develop knowledge-management repositories and CI/CD pipelines to support production-quality engineering deliverables.
• Travel as needed, up to 25%.

Benefits

• Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers.
• Top-tier benefits package, described as comprehensive and competitive and available at little to no cost to employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed