Technical Program Director, Missiles & Hypersonic Strike Systems

Machina Labs; California; On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

PTO

Stock Options

Job summary

Machina Labs, Inc. seeks a Technical Program Director for Missiles & Hypersonic Strike Systems in California. The role involves leading advanced defense programs, managing cross-functional teams, and interfacing with government and defense contractors. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, 10+ years in aerospace program management, and proficiency in managing complex technical programs. The position offers a competitive salary between $200,000 – $240,000 annually along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aerospace and defense program management.
• Experience with missiles, hypersonic systems, and aerospace structures.
• Strong understanding of defense program lifecycles.

Responsibilities

• Own execution of technical programs for missile and hypersonic applications.
• Coordinate internal teams across engineering, production, and quality.
• Serve as a primary interface for defense primes and government offices.

Skills

Aerospace program management

Technical leadership

Cross-functional team management

Cost management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

About Machina Labs

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet.

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years.

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we’re rebuilding the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on.

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place.

Job Description

Machina Labs is seeking a Technical Program Director, Missiles & Hypersonic Strike Systems to lead the execution of high-priority defense programs involving advanced structural assemblies, formed metallic components, and next-generation manufacturing solutions for strategic strike platforms.

This leader will be responsible for driving complex technical programs from early feasibility and prototyping through qualification, low-rate initial production, and full-rate production. The role sits at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, customer delivery, and defense program execution. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience managing technically demanding aerospace and defense programs, with particular strength in missiles, hypersonic weapons, propulsion-adjacent structures, and flight-critical hardware.

The Technical Program Director will work cross-functionally with engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and executive leadership to ensure program success. This individual will also serve as a key customer-facing leader, building trust with defense prime contractors, government stakeholders, and strategic partners while ensuring Machina Labs delivers on cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality.

This is a senior technical leadership role that will help shape how Machina Labs scales into mission-critical defense production.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end execution of technical programs supporting missile and hypersonic strike weapon applications.
• Lead programs from concept development and prototyping through qualification, production readiness, LRIP, and full-rate production.
• Ensure program performance across technical scope, schedule, budget, risk, and quality objectives.
• Translate customer requirements into executable internal plans across engineering, manufacturing, inspection, and delivery functions.

Drive Cross-Functional Alignment

• Coordinate internal teams across applications engineering, production, quality, supply chain, robotics, and product development.
• Establish program governance, milestones, decision points, and reporting structures to maintain alignment and accountability.
• Drive timely issue resolution and remove blockers across technical and operational workstreams.
• Build scalable program management processes to support increasingly complex defense programs.
• Interface with Customers and External Stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary program interface for defense primes, government program offices, and strategic partners.
• Lead program reviews, technical interchange meetings, status updates, and executive briefings.
• Ensure customer requirements, compliance expectations, and delivery commitments are clearly understood and executed.
• Support proposal shaping, statement of work review, technical planning, and transition-to-execution activities for new awards.

Manage Technical and Manufacturing Risk

• Identify program risks early and develop mitigation plans across design maturity, manufacturability, supply chain, quality, and schedule.
• Drive disciplined change management and configuration control in partnership with engineering and quality teams.
• Ensure production and qualification activities are supported by robust documentation, planning, and readiness reviews.
• Help bridge the gap between advanced manufacturing innovation and production-grade defense execution.

Support Growth in Strategic Strike Programs

• Help position Machina Labs for expanded participation in advanced strike, missile, and hypersonic weapon programs.
• Inform internal investment priorities based on customer demand, program needs, and manufacturing readiness requirements.
• Contribute to long-term customer success by identifying follow-on opportunities tied to production scale-up and adjacent hardware applications.

Required Background & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace and defense program management, technical program leadership, or integrated product team leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex hardware programs involving missiles, hypersonic systems, aerospace structures, propulsion-adjacent hardware, or other high-performance defense platforms.
• Strong understanding of defense program lifecycles, including prototyping, qualification, test, transition to production, and production ramp.
• Proven experience managing cross-functional teams in technically complex and fast‑paced environments.
• Strong working knowledge of cost, schedule, risk, and configuration management practices.
• Experience interfacing directly with defense prime contractors and U.S. Government customers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across engineers, operators, executives, and customers.
• Ability to travel as required, up to 25%.
• Must be eligible to work in an ITAR‑controlled environment.

Additional Qualities

• Technically credible and operationally disciplined, with the ability to earn trust across engineering and production teams.
• Able to move fluidly between deep technical detail and executive-level communication.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure where processes are still evolving.
• Highly organized, accountable, and able to maintain composure in high-pressure environments.
• Effective at driving execution across matrixed teams while maintaining momentum and alignment.
• Customer-facing and mission-oriented, with the ability to build trust in high-stakes environments.
• Willing to take a hands‑on approach when needed to ensure program success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business Administration.
• Experience supporting programs tied to systems such as cruise missiles, long‑range strike weapons, hypersonic weapons, boost‑glide systems, air‑breathing hypersonic systems, or similar strategic defense platforms.
• Experience with metallic structures, structural assemblies, thermal management structures, tanks, ducts, skins, or other flight‑critical hardware.
• Familiarity with defense contracting environments, including Cost Plus, Fixed Price, and T&M contract structures.
• Experience in advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics‑enabled production, or digital manufacturing environments.
• Prior experience in a startup, high‑growth manufacturing company, or dual‑use technology company.

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

$200,000 - $240,000 a year

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location.

In addition to the provided base salary range, comprehensive benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), PTO, and Stock Options.

Machina Labs is an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law.

We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.