Technical Program Manager – Tempest

San Diego, CA
Full Time
Experienced

 

Technical Program Manager – Tempest 

Onsite in the San Diego Office 
 

Firestorm, an unmanned aircraft system manufacturing company, grew out of a simple question: how does a US ally country with a relatively small defense budget deter an aggressor state with a vastly larger war chest? We’re building the answer to that question, something we call “democratized deterrence.” Firestorm is a VC-backed, defense-meets-Silicon Valley technology company developing mission-adaptable aerial vehicles to put the power back into the hands of the operator. We aim to upend the current defense procurement cost paradigm by bringing world-class capabilities to bear at meaningfully lower costs. 

About the Role: 

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Technical Programs, the Technical Program Manager (TPM) will lead Firestorm’s flagship program: Tempest. The TPM will plan, drive, and lead fast-paced and highly technical projects. 

  

About you: 

  • You are an experienced program manager with an engineering degree, capable of managing multiple concurrent technical projects in support of a higher-level program 

  • You’ve been a hands-on engineer (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.) 

  • You are committed to quality and have a passion for exceeding customer expectations 

  • You have substantial experience in bringing electromechanical products from concept to deployment 

  • You are a team player and a joy to work with 

  • You love Gantt charts, dashboards, and checklists 

Responsibilities: 

  • Create, maintain, and track detailed program schedules, budgets, and resource plans for cross-functional, global programs and supporting projects from concept through NPI and deployment 

  • Advocate for program resources, budget, and priority 

  • Monitor and report on project and program status and key metrics 

  • Identify, assess, and mitigate project and program risks, escalating as necessary 

  • Identify project and program issues, lead solution development 

  • Ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations 

  • Implement and oversee robust variant management strategies 

  • Negotiate various terms related to performance, delivery, and cost with Sales/Business Development 

  • Act as the primary point of contact for coordination between the engineering, product, manufacturing, quality, and business teams 

  • Act as the primary customer contact for program activities, such as project and program reviews 

  • Partner with Marketing, Sales, and Business Development to produce customer-facing documentation 

  • Work and negotiate with vendors on agreements and contracts 

  • Coordinate the planning, preparation, and execution of various demonstrations and test events 

  • Partner with Engineering to continually improve current product offerings and advocate for product features that will benefit your program and delight your customers 

  • Ensure high performance by participating in the acquisition, development, and retention of the required management, professional, and technical talent 

Skills and Experience Required: 

  • US Citizen or US permanent resident capable of obtaining and maintaining a US Department of Defense security clearance 

  • 4-year engineering degree (Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical preferred) 

  • Experience as a hands-on engineer 

  • Minimum 7 years (10+ preferred) managing technical projects  

  • Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills 

  • Experience working on projects with global 3rd party engineering and consultation services 

  • Proficient in setting up and interacting with shared digital project management tools 

Bonus Skills / Experience: 

  • Direct experience bringing sUAS products to market across the defense and / or commercial sectors 

  • PMP certification and current status 

  • Master’s Degree (MBA or Engineering Management) 

  • Familiarity with DoD standards related to sUAS 

  • Experience interfacing with the defense industry and/or military personnel 

Other Requirements: 

  • Travel up to 20% (Domestic and International) 

  • Ability to lift 30lbs 

  • Ability to understand and adhere to local labor laws and firestorm employment policies 

  • Other duties as assigned  

Firestorm is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions. Our culture at Firestorm fosters collaboration, respect, and trust to empower passionate people to do their best work.  We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. 

What we offer: 

  • Salary: 140 to 180k per year  

  • 401(k) 

  • Life insurance 

  • Long term disability insurance 

  • Unlimited PTO 

  • Optional Benefits: 

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance 

  • FSA 

  • HSA (requires a high deductible health insurance plan) 

  • Hospital insurance 

  • Critical illness insurance 

  • Accident insurance

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