Hybrid Defense Hardware Program Manager

Wild West Systems, Inc.; Leander (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Wild West Systems is seeking a Technical Program Manager to bridge engineering execution and contract delivery in a hybrid role in Leander, TX. You’ll own program schedule, budget, and customer relationships while remaining technically credible in design reviews and trade-off discussions.

You’ll guide hardware programs from development through test and delivery, ensure ITAR/EAR compliance, and coordinate with subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams to keep programs on track and aligned with

Qualifications

• 5+ years in defense program management, systems engineering, or a hybrid PM/engineering role.
• Experience managing hardware development programs (not pure software/IT).
• Working knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, CDRLs, and contract types.
• Ability to read and engage with engineering drawings, test data, and technical requirements documents.
• U.S. Citizen

Responsibilities

• Own program schedule, budget (EVM or lightweight equivalent), risk register, and deliverables across one or more counter-UAS / kinetic effector programs
• Serve as primary customer POC for program status, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and deliverable reviews
• Manage subcontractors, vendors, and supply chain dependencies against program milestones
• Prepare and present program reviews (internal and customer-facing), including CDRLs, status reports, and risk mitigation plans
• Manage contract compliance (CPFF, FFP, OTA) in coordination with contracts/finance
• Partner directly with engineering leads on system architecture, design maturity, and technical risk tracking
• Translate engineering realities (test failures, design changes, supply chain substitutions) into schedule/cost impact assessments
• Drive requirements management and verification/validation planning (test plans, acceptance criteria)
• Participate in design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR) as a technical stakeholder, not just a scribe
• Identify and resolve conflicts between engineering scope creep and program baseline

Skills

Defense program management

Systems engineering

Program management

Hardware development

DoD acquisition knowledge

Customer liaison

Reading engineering drawings

ITAR/EAR compliance

PMP

Tools

Earned Value Management (EVM)

CDRLs

PDR/CDR/TRR participation

Job description

Wild West Systems is seeking a Technical Program Manager to bridge engineering execution and contract delivery in a hybrid role in Leander, TX. You’ll own program schedule, budget, and customer relationships while remaining technically credible in design reviews and trade-off discussions.

You’ll guide hardware programs from development through test and delivery, ensure ITAR/EAR compliance, and coordinate with subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams to keep programs on track and aligned with