Technical Program Manager, Hardware Engineering

The Role

You have successfully owned and managed hardware programs end-to-end, taking full accountability for execution and delivery—not simply providing support. You are results-driven, with a strong focus on meeting program objectives, timelines, and performance expectations.

This is a full-time, on-site role in the Bay Area, CA for a Technical Program Manager responsible for driving Bulwark’s hardware development programs from award through delivery. You will report directly to our VP of Growth and work closely with engineering leadership to manage program execution, define requirements, and deliver on cost, schedule, and performance commitments. You will serve as the primary point of contact for our Government customers, ensuring alignment between customer needs, technical objectives, and program deliverables.

This role is ideal for someone who can bridge program management and engineering, translate customer requirements into actionable plans, and drive critical decisions across cross-functional teams. You will take ownership of program execution, manage tradeoffs between cost, schedule, and technical capability, and ensure that what we build meets the requirements that matter.

Key Responsibilities

• Own program execution end to end: planning, integrated master schedule, budget, milestones, and contract deliverables, working with contracts and finance on modifications.

• Serve as the primary interface to Government program offices and sponsors: lead program reviews, communicate status and risk with candor, and build the trust that turns one program into a long-term relationship.

• Own the requirements baseline and change control: translate operational needs into clear, testable requirements, maintain traceability through test and delivery, and document tradeoff decisions with engineering leadership, who hold technical authority.

• Own the program-level test strategy and schedule, working with our mission operations team, who lead field execution of test events.

• Integrate engineering, production, and business development with our technology, manufacturing, and test partners in the U.S. and abroad, holding every partner to the same standard as our own team.

• Identify, track, and retire technical, schedule, and cost risk; escalate early and bring options, not just problems.

• Feed program and customer insight into product strategy and the roadmap, and build the program management team, processes, and tools that scale as our portfolio grows.

Requirements

• 6+ years of program management experience with direct responsibility for cost, schedule, and technical performance.

• Led at least one physical hardware program (or an integrated system that includes hardware) through build, test, and delivery to a customer.

• Experience managing programs for the Department of War or other U.S. Government customers, including formal program reviews, performance reporting, and briefings to senior leadership.

• Proven experience leading program managers or coordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, testing, and operations.

• Ability to work effectively with engineering teams and understand technical requirements, design decisions, and testing tradeoffs.

• Strong command of integrated master schedules (IMS), budget and cost tracking, risk management, and change control.

• Willingness to travel up to 25%, including occasional international travel.

Preferred / Nice to Have

• Familiarity with Other Transaction (OT) agreements, prototype development programs, and other rapid acquisition pathways.

• Experience managing maritime, unmanned, autonomous, or other complex hardware systems.

• Military acquisition or operational experience combined with industry program management experience.

• Experience overseeing international manufacturing or testing partners, with an understanding of ITAR and U.S. export control requirements.

• Product management experience within a hardware, aerospace, maritime, or defense technology company.

• PMP or DAWIA Program Management certification.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base pay: $150,000 – $215,000 per year, depending on experience.

• Equity: early-stage stock options.

• Benefits: employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision coverage.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• You have delivered on prototype timelines measured in months, and you build as much process as the program needs and no more.

• You can hold a Government customer, an engineering team, and a production partner to the same schedule and keep all three on your side.

Location & Eligibility

On-site in the Bay Area, CA. Reports to the interim VP of Growth initially, and will transition to the appropriate director or officer as the company’s structure evolves. This role may involve access to technology and technical data controlled under U.S. export-control laws (ITAR/EAR). Candidates must be able to meet applicable U.S. export-control requirements, which may include qualifying as a “U.S. person” (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other protected individual).