Executive Project Manager to the VP Engineering

STARK; Berlin; Vor Ort; EUR 70.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading defense technology company in Berlin seeks an experienced program manager to enhance software delivery across ambitious projects. This high-impact role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to manage ambiguity, and effective communication. Ideal candidates will have 4+ years in project management, with a background in complex engineering settings. The position offers opportunities to shape cutting-edge systems and significant responsibility from day one.

Leistungen

High-trust environment

Direct impact on defense capabilities

Opportunity to influence operational practices

Qualifikationen

• 4+ years in programme/project management, ideally in complex engineering environments.
• Experience with software-first environments and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Calm in chaos, brings clarity and notices problems early.

Aufgaben

• Align software team goals with hardware programme goals and drive software delivery.
• Shape the software team's operating system for timely, high-quality delivery.
• Prepare decision-ready briefs, technical summaries, and risk assessments.

Kenntnisse

Programme/project management

Communication skills

Organisational thinking

Systems thinking

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Jobbeschreibung

Permanent employee, Full-time

• Berlin

About Us

STARK is building the next generation of defence technology – autonomous, software-defined, mass-scalable systems that operate across air, land, and maritime domains. Our software platform is the cognitive core of these systems: autonomy, navigation, targeting, sensing, mission control, and ground‑station UI all come together here. The software organisation works as a platform team supporting multiple hardware programmes simultaneously. All unmanned systems of the STARK family rely on the same software platform evolving rapidly, reliably, and intelligently. The software teams are based in multiple locations across Europe and Ukraine.

Your mission

Be the VP Software’s right hand – the operational and strategic force that keeps the software team aligned, high‑performing, and able to execute across multiple hardware programmes at once. This role is high‑trust, high‑visibility, and high‑impact. You will move between strategic thinking and hands‑on coordination daily. You will bring clarity into messy environments, see risks before others do, translate technical complexity into clear decisions, and help a fast‑growing engineering team stay focused on what matters most.

We are not looking for a “process administrator.” We are looking for someone who:

• thrives in chaos,
• loves solving organisational puzzles,
• communicates crisply,
• keeps teams aligned when stakes are high,
• turns ambiguity into direction.

Responsibilities

Drive Cross‑Program Alignment and Software Delivery

• Align ambitious software team goals with hardware programme goals and drive software delivery.
• Track timelines, unblock teams, and adjust plans as new realities emerge.
• Ensure everyone has the same picture of priorities, trade‑offs, and upcoming deliverables.
• Resolve prioritisation conflicts across software teams and hardware programmes.
• Define and enforce quality, safety and security standards.
• Prepare for audits and certifications.

Continuously Improve the Delivery System and Grow People

• Shape the software team’s “operating system” that embraces autonomy and speed and ensures timely, high‑quality delivery.
• Maintain clear interfaces with other R&D functions such as hardware, systems engineering, flight testing, production and the leadership team.
• Create lightweight but robust processes: planning cadences, reporting frameworks, alignment rituals, dashboards, documentation standards. The goal is to adhere to high quality standards of the defence industry without slowing down.
• Foster a continuous improvement work environment where software engineers and product owners can thrive and grow.
• Support hiring for key positions in the growing software organisation.

Be the VP Software’s Strategic Partner

• Prepare decision‑ready briefs, technical summaries, risk assessments, and recommendations.
• Help the VP Software focus on what only they can do and be able to catch everything else.
• Represent the VP when needed in meetings, working groups, or cross‑functional discussions.
• Run high‑impact initiatives with company‑wide impact.

Qualifications

Experience

• 4+ years in programme/project management, product, operations, consulting, or similar roles – ideally in complex engineering environments.
• Experience with both software‑first environments and cross‑functional engineering teams is a plus.
• Automotive, aerospace or related industry background where hardware‑software integration is a key element of the product is also a plus.
• Defence, robotics or embedded‑systems exposure is helpful – but organisational thinking and execution discipline matter more.

You Have the Following Qualities

• You are calm in chaos. You bring clarity when things get confusing and help others stay grounded.
• You notice the problems others miss – risks, dependencies, tensions – you catch them early.
• You think in systems. You understand how teams fit together and how decisions ripple across an organisation.
• You thrive in ambiguity. You don’t wait for fully formed instructions – you shape them.
• You communicate crisply. Whether it’s written, spoken, or summarising complex technical context, you make things simple.
• You build trust quickly. You operate with discretion, integrity, and a low‑ego attitude.
• You act like an owner. You move fast and follow through.
• You get things done.

Tools & Mindset

• Comfortable using Jira, Confluence, planning tools, and whatever the team needs to run well.
• Highly proactive, structured, and capable of independently pushing things across the finish line.
• Able to work closely with engineers without needing to be one.
• Sensible handling of classified information and B2G customers.

Why STARK

• Work directly with senior engineering leaders, shaping cutting‑edge autonomous systems.
• High‑trust environment with significant responsibility from day one.
• Your work directly impacts urgent defence capability for NATO‑aligned nations.
• Opportunity to influence the organisational and operational backbone of our software platform.
• Learn more, faster, than almost anywhere else.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

We are an equal‑opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.

Apply for this job – We are looking forward to hearing from you! Thank you for your interest in STARK. Please fill out the following short form. Should you have difficulties with the upload of your data, please contact our recruiting team.