Technical Program Manager

Canopy A&D•Irvine, CA

17d•Onsite

About The Position

Canopy Aerospace & Defense (A&D) is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional teams in delivering innovative thermal protection solutions from concept through production. This role involves serving as the key technical liaison between customers and internal teams, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and deliverables. The position also supports front-end program development and capture, working with Growth and Engineering teams to translate customer needs into executable programs. This includes developing proposals, defining engineering requirements, and ensuring a smooth transition from acquisition to execution. A critical aspect is engaging with prospective customers on a technical level to shape new opportunities and lay the groundwork for successful program delivery. This role is essential for advancing Canopy Technologies’ mission of developing cutting-edge thermal protection technologies by coordinating joint development efforts, managing program risks, and driving informed decision-making.

Requirements

Ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher). This includes meeting background check and other requirements, as required for access to controlled defense-related information and facilities.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience working on cross-functional engineering teams.
5+ years of experience in technical program management or similar role with a high degree of technical ownership, preferably in aerospace, defense, or advanced materials industries.
Experience managing and executing on programs involving launch vehicles, missile systems, thermal protection systems, thermal design, and/or composite materials.
Proven leadership track record managing and owning complex, multi-disciplinary engineering products or systems from concept through delivery.
Demonstrated ability to lead joint programs across internal departments and external partners or customers.
Experience and comfortability working in CAD to support engineering collaboration.
Strong technical background with direct experience in thermal control systems, vibration isolation materials/subsystems, and/or radar absorption materials/subsystems, and the ability to understand and communicate complex engineering concepts.
Experience with risk management, milestone and performance (KPI) tracking, and project planning tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet).
Excellent documentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, including developing long-form technical reports and executive-level presentations.
Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English
Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use
Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email
Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
Willingness to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
Willingness to travel to other Canopy A&D sites as needed

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with Aerospace Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), ablatives, high-temperature composites, ceramic matrix composites (CMC), or advanced coatings systems.
Familiarity with government contracting environments (as prime or sub), including FAR/DFARS-related processes.
Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher).
Graduate-level technical degree, such as M.S. or PhD in a science or engineering discipline.
Familiarity with defense, aerospace, and space standards such as MIL-STD-810, RTCA/DO-160, SMS-S-016, or similar.
PMP or similar project management certification.
Experience with qualification and development testing, in addition to production testing environments.
Background in customer-facing roles or business development in a technical environment.
Hands-on experience working with advanced metallic and non-metallic materials including, but not limited to, super alloys, ceramics, composites, or elastomers.

Responsibilities

Align cross-functional teams—including engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain— on program goals, timelines, and deliverables to ensure seamless execution from concept through production.
Serve as the primary technical liaison for customers, translating feedback into actionable engineering tasks and ensuring alignment with program objectives and requirements.
Represent technical content clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders and external partners, including customers, suppliers, and sister companies.
Support proposal and business capture efforts for new and existing customers by defining requirements, performing feasibility studies, developing technical scope/budgets, drafting and presenting written proposals to internal and external leadership, and managing early-stage transition from acquisition to kickoff.
Coordinate joint development efforts across affiliated companies and business units, ensuring shared milestones, resources, and deliverables are met.
Support technical execution across engineering and manufacturing as needed to meet program objectives and timelines.
Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks early, implementing contingency plans to maintain schedule and technical performance.
Track program progress using project management tools, maintaining visibility on key milestones, budgets, and resource allocation.
Prepare dashboards, KPIs, and performance metrics for internal leadership and customer review to communicate program health and status.
Facilitate timely and informed decision-making by providing data-driven insights, technical context, and clear trade-off analyses to leadership and engineering teams.
Support the development and qualification of Canopy Technologies’ thermal protection materials and other product development initiatives across affiliated partners.
Travel to customer sites, test facilities, and partner locations as needed to support program execution and integration activities.