Program Manager - Unmanned Air Systems

Machina Cognita Technologies; Virginia; On-site; USD 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Comprehensive health insurance

Flexible work hours & PTO

Professional development reimbursement

Employee voice in projects

Job summary

Machina Cognita Technologies seeks a Program Manager – Unmanned Air Systems to lead cross-functional defense programs from ideation through testing and release. You will own program plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation while guiding system architecture discussions and coordinating with engineers.

This onsite role in Northern Virginia requires 5+ years of PM experience and a strong background in UAS testing, with close collaboration to defense customers and continuous optimization of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in CS, Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of program management 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

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Military experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher 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 Northern Virginia.

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
• 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. The expected pay range for this position is $135,000-$180,000.

• Safe Harbor 401(k) with 4% employer match
• Health, dental, and vision 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.