Senior Program Manager

You’ll own program execution across technical scope, schedule, resources, risks, and dependencies, and partner closely with Engineering, Product, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations to deliver against committed cost, schedule, quality, and performance objectives. 7+ years of experience leading complex engineering or technical programs as a Technical Program Manager, IPT Lead, Systems Engineering Lead, or equivalent cross-functional leadership role.

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Senior Technical Program Manager for a growing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) manufacturer in the greater Los Angeles area. In this role, you’ll lead complex, cross-functional programs across the full hardware development lifecycle, from early concept and architecture through validation, production ramp, and lifecycle sustainment.
  You’ll own program execution across technical scope, schedule, resources, risks, and dependencies, and partner closely with Engineering, Product, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations to deliver against committed cost, schedule, quality, and performance objectives. The ideal candidate is an experienced technical program leader who thrives in a highly dynamic hardware environment and can independently drive ambiguous, technically complex programs toward execution.
  Responsibilities:

• Lead new UAS product programs across the full hardware lifecycle, from early concept and architecture through design, validation, production ramp, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Own program execution across technical scope, schedule, cost, resources, risks, and dependencies, keeping engineering and operations aligned to program objectives.
• Work with the Product team to review PRDs and development build plans and align technical and business teams on execution.
• Build and drive detailed integrated program plans, including Gantt schedules, resource allocation, critical-path tracking, and risk mitigation, using agile tools (Scrum, Kanban) where they fit.
• Facilitate cross-functional peer reviews and lead design reviews (PDR, CDR, MRR) across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and manufacturing teams.
• Plan and coordinate prototype builds, first articles, and flight test campaigns with engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations.
• Manage interdependencies across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, propulsion, avionics, supply chain, and external partners.
• Work with Supply Chain and suppliers on long-lead items, component availability, BOM cost, and compliant sourcing for defense and government customers.
• Lead technical trade studies and drive decisions where performance, cost, schedule, and requirements conflict.
• Drive DFMEA with engineering ICs, lead failure mode and root cause investigations, and ensure manufacturing feedback supports iterative product development.
• Keep engineering change control and configuration management aligned so design, BOM, and production documentation stay in sync.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for program status, tradeoffs, and decisions, escalating risks and unblocking teams as needed.
• Maintain program-level visibility across multiple concurrent workstreams so critical-path activities, risks, and decisions are actively managed.
• Evolve the organization’s program execution framework (PDP process), coach cross-functional teams on effective program practices, and accelerate hardware development and delivery.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience leading complex engineering or technical programs as a Technical Program Manager, IPT Lead, Systems Engineering Lead, or equivalent cross-functional leadership role.
• Experience taking hardware products from concept through validation and production ramp, including prototype builds and first-article or pilot production.
• Active risk and opportunity management, balancing parallel paths against tradeoffs in schedule, cost, and performance.
• Proven ability to lead and influence without direct management authority, with strong attention to detail and experience coordinating across engineering, product, and operations teams.
• Excellent communication, technical fluency, and program tracking instincts.
• Experience with project scheduling (Gantt) tools, preferably Smartsheet.
• Familiarity with modern project management and Kanban applications such as Jira, Trello, Linear, or Notion.
• Ability to stand for extended periods during first builds and production floor activities and to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), drones, or other autonomous, vision-based, or aerospace platforms.
• Familiarity with Blue UAS and NDAA-compliant component requirements and defense or government customer programs.
• Experience planning and supporting flight test campaigns.
• Familiarity with PCBA, propulsion, batteries, avionics, and other flight-critical hardware and their impact on project scoping and planning.
• Experience leading failure mode and root cause investigations on complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Experience in environments with both agile software and gated hardware development cycles.
• Experience leading highly technical programs involving infrastructure, complex systems, or systems engineering.
• Deep understanding of aerospace and defense hardware development lifecycles, cradle to grave.
• PMP or equivalent formal program management certification.

Salary: $150,000 - $185,000

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