Program Manager - Unmanned Air Systems

Machina Cognita Technologies; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safe Harbor 401(k) with 4% employer &

Health and dental insurance with 99% –

Flexible work hours + inclusive PTO

Professional development reimbursement

Senior leadership guidance and open-vo

Employee voice in projects and goals

Job summary

Machina Cognita Technologies in Lafayette, IN is seeking a Program Manager for Unmanned Air Systems to drive end-to-end Test and Evaluation programs. You will partner with defense customers to understand pain points, conceptualize solutions, and lead development across the product life cycle.

The role requires a strong PM background, hands-on software experience, and excellent communication. It is an onsite, full-time opportunity with growth potential in a dynamic R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of program management experience.
• Hands-on software development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional UAS Test and Evaluation programs.
• Oversee the development and execution of Test and Evaluation systems across a range of complex environments and systems.
• Develop program plans, schedules, budgets, and quality goals.
• Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and contractual risks.
• Contribute to system architecture and technical design discussions.
• Run pilot implementations, troubleshoot issues, and drive resolution.
• Collaborate with engineers to translate client needs into innovative solutions.
• Travel to client destinations to facilitate Test and Evaluation events and provide ongoing support and optimization.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Software development

Communication skills

Military experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/Physics

Job description

Machina Cognita Technologies is an R&D-driven company specializing in machine learning innovations for government, commercial, and educational applications. We embrace today’s most exciting machine learning challenges with technologies including uncrewed autonomous systems, large language models, realistic simulation environments, computer vision, and reinforcement learning.

We are looking for a Program Manager – Unmanned Air Systems who thrives on tackling complex problems and pushing the boundaries of new technologies. In this role, you’ll partner closely with defense customers to understand their pain points, conceptualize forward-thinking solutions, and lead the development of Test and Evaluation capabilities for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS). You’ll own programs across the full product life cycle, bringing your ideas to life through new business opportunities.

This is a full-time, onsite role located in Lafayette, IN.

Who You Are

• Energized by open-ended technical challenges in early-stage product development

• Cross-functional leader and collaborator

• Turns failures into learning opportunities

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or related field

• 5+ years of program management experience

• Hands-on software development experience

• Experience developing a new product through ideation, design, testing, and release

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills

• Military experience is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional UAS Test and Evaluation programs

• Oversee the development and execution of Test and Evaluation systems across a range of complex environments and systems

• Develop program plans, schedules, budgets, and quality goals

• Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and contractual risks

• Contribute to system architecture and technical design discussions

• Run pilot implementations, troubleshoot issues, and drive resolution

• Collaborate with engineers to translate client needs into innovative solutions

• Travel to client destinations to facilitate Test and Evaluation events and provide ongoing support and optimization

Compensation

Compensation is based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, location, ability, education, certifications, specialized skills, business needs, and scope and responsibilities of the position.

Benefits

• Safe Harbor 401(k) with 4% employer match

• Health and dental insurance with 99% employer contribution towards employee premiums

• Flexible work hours + inclusive PTO policy to support work-life balance

• Professional development reimbursement for continual learning

• Freedom to explore, create, play, and problem-solve while receiving support and guidance from senior leaders

• Every employee, at every level, has a voice in what projects we pursue and how we accomplish our technical goals

Machina Cognita Technologies does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, or other non-merit factors. We recognize and appreciate the value of a diverse workforce and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.