Senior Technical Program Manager (Drone Hardware)

FlightWave, a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill a Sr. Technical Program Manager (Drone Hardware) position. We are a dynamic and growing drone technology company focused on the manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS drones) for use in defense, public safety, and other government security organizations.

This role drives engineering execution and bridges the gap between engineering, product, and operations. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders to translate product vision into actionable program plans, own PRD development, lead cross-functional reviews, develop integrated development schedules, and ultimately drive cross-functional execution across hardware, software, and other engineering teams.

Location Note: This role is onsite in Carson, California.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of both sustaining engineering and new product programs — from early concept through design, validation, and production ramp.
• Solicit input from customer teams to define product requirements, features, and success criteria. 
• Own and maintain PRDs (Product Requirements Documents) and ensure alignment across technical and business teams.
• Build and drive detailed program plans, including schedules, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Develop detailed gantt charts and leverage agile tools (scrum, kanban, etc) to drive planning and execution.
• Facilitate cross-functional reviews and ensure timely execution across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and manufacturing teams.
• Identify and manage interdependencies between engineering disciplines, supply chain, and external partners.
• Act as the primary point of contact for program status, tradeoffs, and decision-making — escalating risks and unblocking teams as needed.
• Help shape FlightWave’s program management practices as the company scales — from tooling to process evolution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience managing complex hardware/software programs from concept through launch.
• Demonstrated experience with cross-functional technical program management in aerospace, robotics, consumer electronics, or a similar field.
• Strong understanding of new product development processes, including PRD creation, requirements traceability, and design validation workflows.
• Experience with project scheduling (gantt) tools, preferably Smartsheet.
• Proven ability to lead without direct authority and to coordinate across engineering, product, and operations.
• Excellent communication, technical fluency, and program tracking instincts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on autonomous systems, aerospace platforms, or other regulated/high-reliability products.
• Familiarity with modern product management tooling (Jira, Trello, Linear, Notion, etc)
• Systems thinking mindset with comfort operating at multiple levels — from boardroom to build floor.
• Experience in environments with both agile software and gated hardware development cycles.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Manual dexterity required for typing, data entry, and handling technical documentation.
• Ability to move throughout the facility to interface with engineering, production, and operations teams, including occasional visits to lab or manufacturing environments.
• Visual acuity to review detailed technical documents, diagrams, and product specifications.
• Effective verbal and written communication across phone, email, and in-person interactions.
• Occasional lifting of ma