Technical Project Manager

Actalent; White Salmon (WA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Bonus potential / ESOP eligibility

Paid time off & holidays

Comprehensive health benefits

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Engineering Project Manager to lead the development of advanced aircraft from concept through production launch. You will own schedules, manage risks, and coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, testing, supply chain, and certification to ensure on-time delivery of complex hardware programs.

The role requires 10+ years in engineering/PM, 5+ years in hardware development leadership, and strong MS Project skills, within an aerospace/defense or

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering and technical PM experience.
• 5+ years leading hardware product development through design, prototyping, testing and production launch.
• Strong scheduling using MS Project or similar tools.
• Experience managing complex engineering programs with risk, dependencies, resources, cost and schedule.
• Background in aerospace/defense/robotics or other complex hardware environments.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain integrated project schedules across the full product development lifecycle.
• Lead project planning, risk management, issue tracking, and weekly project reviews.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, testing, supply chain, and certification activities.
• Manage deliverables including BOMs, drawings, prototypes, configuration control, verification testing, and production readiness.
• Develop WBS, identify critical path activities, drive accountability across engineering teams.
• Communicate project status, risks, milestones, and recovery plans to stakeholders and leadership.
• Support engineering change management and continuous improvement of PM processes.

Skills

10+ years PM experience

Hardware development leadership

MS Project scheduling

Complex engineering program mgmt

Aerospace/defense background

Cross-functional leadership

Configuration control & ECN

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical/Electrical/Aerospace/Industrial Engineering

Tools

PDM/ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Engineering Project Manager

Job Summary

This role leads the development of advanced aircraft from concept through production launch. Reporting to the Chief Engineer, you'll own project schedules, manage risks, coordinate cross‑functional engineering teams, and ensure complex aerospace hardware programs stay on track. This is a highly visible role with direct impact on product delivery, revenue, and next‑generation unmanned aircraft development.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain integrated project schedules across the full product development lifecycle.

• Lead project planning, risk management, issue tracking, and weekly project reviews.

• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, testing, supply chain, and certification activities.

• Manage project deliverables including BOMs, drawing releases, prototype builds, configuration control, verification testing, and production readiness.

• Develop work breakdown structures (WBS), identify critical path activities, and drive accountability across engineering teams.

• Communicate project status, risks, milestones, and recovery plans to stakeholders and leadership.

• Support engineering change management and continuous improvement of project management processes.

Essential Skills

• 10+ years of combined engineering and technical project management experience.

• 5+ years leading hardware product development programs through design, prototyping, testing, and production launch.

• Strong project scheduling skills using Microsoft Project or similar tools.

• Experience managing complex engineering programs involving risk, dependencies, resources, cost, and schedule.

• Background in aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other complex hardware development environments.

• Experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams and driving projects to completion.

• Familiarity with configuration control, engineering change management, and product development processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field.

• Experience with VTOL, UAV/UAS, aerospace systems, or other advanced electromechanical products.

• Knowledge of PDM/ERP systems and configuration management processes.

• Exposure to DO-178 or aerospace certification environments.

• Strong communication and executive‑level project reporting skills.

Work Environment

This position is based 100% onsite in the Columbia Gorge with the potential to transition into a hybrid arrangement after approximately 2–3 months, depending on performance and business needs. You will work in an engineering‑focused environment developing advanced aircraft systems, collaborating closely with cross‑functional teams spanning design, manufacturing, and testing. The role relies heavily on digital project management tools such as Microsoft Project and PDM/ERP systems, as well as standard engineering and configuration management tools. The work setting emphasizes structured project execution, disciplined engineering processes, and close coordination between technical and operational teams to support the full product lifecycle from concept through production.

We’re ideally seeking local or regional talent to the PNW. Non‑regional talent must be ready and willing to relocate and possess obvious resume alignment to critical qualifications.

#LI-MH3

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of White Salmon, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $143000.00 - $229000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) - Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program. - Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high‑deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in White Salmon,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.