Technical Program Manager

Laborup; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Laborup in Nashville, TN is seeking a Technical Program Manager to own aerospace/defense programs from RFQ to delivery. You will read drawings, challenge cost assumptions, and drive quotes, schedules, and margins while mentoring two junior program managers.

You will partner with engineering, quality, production, and suppliers in a tight, AS9100 environment to meet customer needs and ensure profitability. Experience reading drawings and cost estimation is essential.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years in program management, project engineering, or manufacturing.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and BOMs.
• Working knowledge of machining, welding, and fabrication.
• Understanding of manufacturing cost drivers and margin.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent technical experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work unsupervised and take initiative.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• RFQ breakdown: Dissect customer RFQs; find what's missing, unclear, or risky.
• Quoting: Build and pressure-test cost estimates before the company commits.
• Program execution: Own scope, schedule, cost, and margin from quote through delivery.
• Customer contact: Serve as primary point of contact for program meetings and inquiries.
• Financials: Develop cash flow projections and cost estimates with team input.
• Reporting: Deliver weekly status on schedule, budget, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Problem-solving: Work technical and production issues directly, on the floor.
• Cross-functional leadership: Lead engineering, quality, production, and suppliers without direct authority.
• Mentoring: Develop two junior program managers into independent program owners.
• Contracts: Assist with contract negotiation, administration, and sales inquiries.

Skills

Reading drawings

Cost estimates

Program management

Manufacturing knowledge

Communication

Initiative

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

We're hiring a Technical Program Manager for our aerospace and defense contract manufacturing company.

We're a low-volume manufacturer building complex machined, welded, and fabricated assemblies for aerospace and defense applications. Customers rarely send us a finished plan. They send an RFQ, a drawing, or a requirement, and we figure out what to build, how to build it, what it costs, and whether it's profitable.

In this role, you'll own both sides of the job from the business side (quoting, margin, schedule, customer relationships, developing two junior program managers) and the engineering side (reading drawings, challenging cost and manufacturing assumptions, solving problems on the shop floor).

You'll report to senior leadership and have a meaningful seat at the table from day one.

Why Join Us

• Full ownership: Run major programs end to end, RFQ through delivery.
• Dual skillset development: Utilize and develop both your business and technical savvy
• Director track: This role is built to grow into a senior leadership position

Compensation

• $90k - $110k

Products, Processes & Systems

• Complex machined, welded, and fabricated assemblies for aerospace and defense
• Low-volume, custom work driven by customer RFQs, drawings, and requirements
• AS9100 quality environment
• Bills of material (BOMs) and technical data packages (TDPs)
• Machining, welding, fabrication, assembly, and outside processes

You don't need an engineering degree for this job. If you can read a drawing, pressure-test a cost estimate, and hold your own with machinists and engineers, we want to talk.

Responsibilities

• RFQ breakdown: Dissect customer RFQs; find what's missing, unclear, or risky.
• Quoting: Build and pressure-test cost estimates before the company commits.
• Program execution: Own scope, schedule, cost, and margin from quote through delivery.
• Customer contact: Serve as primary point of contact for program meetings and inquiries.
• Financials: Develop cash flow projections and cost estimates with team input.
• Reporting: Deliver weekly status on schedule, budget, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Problem-solving: Work technical and production issues directly, on the floor.
• Cross-functional leadership: Lead engineering, quality, production, and suppliers without direct authority.
• Mentoring: Develop two junior program managers into independent program owners.
• Contracts: Assist with contract negotiation, administration, and sales inquiries.

Qualifications

Required

• 5–10 years in program management, project engineering, or manufacturing
• Ability to read engineering drawings and BOMs
• Working knowledge of machining, welding, and fabrication
• Understanding of manufacturing cost drivers and margin
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent technical experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Able to work unsupervised and take initiative
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Preferred

• Engineering degree (strongly preferred)
• PMP certification
• Aerospace and defense industry experience
• Experience in an AS9100 environment
• Familiarity with government cost standards and contracting
• ERP and material planning software experience
• Cost accounting experience
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or program managers