Senior Technical Project Manager

LTA Research; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Parental leave

Education stipend

Job summary

LTA Research is seeking a Senior Technical Project Manager to apply engineering and PM principles to plan, execute, and oversee the development and integration of complex aerospace systems.

You will develop project plans, lead cross-functional teams across California sites, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive testing and integration efforts while exploring AI-assisted scheduling tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years managing technical aerospace projects.
• Experience with cross-functional engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project plans, scope, and schedules for aerospace system development and testing.
• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to define technical deliverables.
• Lead day-to-day technical operations: hardware integration, software testing, safety-critical verification.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Mitigate schedule risks using technical knowledge.
• Oversee creation of design records, testing protocols, milestone tracking.
• Ensure compliance with aviation regulations and standards.
• Utilize PM tools to align resources and schedules.
• Evaluate AI-assisted scheduling and resource-planning tools.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Attention to detail

Technical communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field

Tools

Project

Jira

Smartsheet

Wrike

Job description

The Senior Technical Project Manager will apply engineering and project management principles to plan, execute, and oversee the development and integration of complex aerospace systems. This position requires a strong understanding of the aerospace domain and technical expertise in managing complex engineering projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project plans, scope, and schedules for the development and testing of aerospace systems.
• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to define technical deliverables and ensure successful execution of engineering tasks.
• Lead day-to-day technical operations, including hardware integration, software testing, and safety-critical system verification.
• Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams to identify and resolve technical challenges during development and testing phases.
• Proactively identify and mitigate schedule risks by leveraging technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of technical documentation, including system design records, testing protocols, and milestone tracking.
• Ensure compliance with aviation regulatory requirements and standards.
• Utilize project management tools to align resources and schedules across teams.
• Evaluate and pilot AI-assisted scheduling and resource-planning tools, assessing fit for the team’s workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional experience managing technical projects in aerospace, aviation, or related engineering fields.
• Proficiency with project management software (e.g., Project, Jira, Smartsheet, Wrike).
• Exceptional leadership and organizational skills, with acute attention to detail.
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to create professional presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work onsite Monday through Friday across two nearby California locations, while supporting remote staff at the Nevada and Ohio offices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or project management.
• Experience managing programs through the full development lifecycle, including design reviews (PDR/CDR), integration, and test.
• Track record of deploying project management or resource-planning tools that measurably improved schedule visibility and cross-team coordination.
• Familiarity with applying AI tools to scheduling, resource planning, or documentation workflows.
• Certifications such as PMP, CAPM, or similar project management credentials.

What We Offer!

• Relocation assistance
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents)
• Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances
• Parental leave
• Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) matching up to 6%
• Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field
• Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride
• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields

Compliance Requirements

• Criminal background check clearance
• Drug test clearance wherever applicable

$150,000 - $180,000 a year

The base salary range for this role is $150,000 - 180,000, which is determined based on experience, geography, and qualifications. The base salary is one component of the total compensation package, which includes a very competitive annual bonus, 401K Match, and other generous benefits. While we believe competitive compensation is a critical aspect of your decision to join us, we do hope you also spend time considering why our mission and culture are right for you.

SMS Text Messaging (10DLC Compliance)

LTA RESEARCH may communicate with applicants and users via SMS (text messaging) for purposes related to job applications, interview scheduling, and other recruitment updates. By providing your phone number through our application or contact forms, you consent to receive such communications.

We do not use SMS for marketing purposes, and we will never sell, rent, or share your phone number with third parties for their promotional use.

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Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of employment. All data collected through text messaging is handled accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws, ensuring your personal information is kept secure and confidential.

LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.

Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.