Technical Program Manager, Sustainment

Company Overview
Performance Drone Works (PDW) builds technologies for the warfighter, by the warfighter. Born out of the Drone Racing League, our roots are competitive, our mindset is tactical, and our mission is clear: deliver purpose-built unmanned systems to those who serve. We are not here to sell vapor; we build and ship real capabilities for real missions.

Now, we're entering a new phase of growth and are looking for a Technical Program Manager to drive sustainment activities for PDW products, ensuring our deployed products remain reliable, effective, and continuously improved for our customers.

What You'll Do

• Lead sustainment programs and projects for fielded PDW systems, ensuring continued performance and reliability.
• Manage and track technical issues reported internally and externally by customers, driving resolution and communication.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to implement technical changes and improvements to existing PDW products.
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) of customer reported issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings to align stakeholders on sustainment priorities and issue resolution.
• Communicate program status across departments and to upper management
• Ensure configuration control is maintained for all changes to fielded systems and associated Bill of Materials (BOMs).
• Track program metrics and provide regular updates on sustainment performance, risks, and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to mature the sustainment processes as PDW scales.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in technical program management, sustainment, or lifecycle support.
• Deep understanding of sustainment engineering practices, including reliability, maintainability, and supportability.
• Strong background in managing technical changes to complex systems, ideally in unmanned aircraft, aerospace, or defense industries.
• Experience tracking, triaging, and resolving customer and internal technical issues.
• Strong understanding of Bill of Materials (BOM) creation, management, and change control.
• Experience leading and working with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct structured root cause analysis (RCA), facilitating corrective action determination and leading execution of corrective action plan.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.

Preferred

• Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) programs or first responder unmanned systems.
• Familiarity with logistics, supply chain, and field support processes for aerospace or defense systems.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift / carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment as well as computer hardware and technical equipment used in system sustainment activities. Must be physically capable of traveling to customer sites and field environments as required.

Work Environment
This position typically operates in a combination of standard office settings, manufacturing facilities, and field environments. This role requires use of standard office equipment, and may involve exposure to machinery, tools, and outdoor conditions. Occasional travel to customer locations, test sites, and supplier facilities is required. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross-departmental collaboration with both independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard work hours for this position are 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime as operational needs demand.

ITAR Requirement

In compliance with International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR), candidates must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) or individuals granted asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Compensation and Benefits

PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match
• Paid Parental Leave
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options
• On-site fitness center

EEO Statement

PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.