Job VC
Project Manager
Technologies
Description
About Us
We are an international defense startup, rapidly expanding to support the Ukrainian national needs. As a startup, we operate in a highly flexible environment where agility, adaptability, and a hands-on approach are critical for success.
Position Overview
We are looking for an experienced and driven Project Manager to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives across our UAV development and manufacturing operations. This role exists to bring structure, clarity, and momentum to our growing portfolio of projects — from hardware development and production ramp-up to supplier coordination and customer delivery.
You will join our Operations team, working closely with engineering, production, procurement, and quality functions. In a fast-moving startup environment, your ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and keep multiple workstreams on track will be critical to our mission and growth.
Key Responsibilities
Build and lead cross-functional project teams from scratch: define roles and responsibilities, onboard team members, and establish effective working practices and communication norms.
Plan projects from zero: develop full project plans including scope definition, work breakdown structure (WBS), resource planning, budget estimation, risk assessment, and milestone scheduling.
Execute and monitor projects across all lifecycle phases — from concept and development through pre-production, pilot builds, and ramp-up — ensuring quality gates and timelines are met at every stage.
Drive projects to Start of Production (SOP): coordinate readiness across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain to achieve SOP on time and within budget.
Act as the primary point of contact for customers: manage expectations, communicate project status and risks, handle escalations, and maintain strong long-term relationships.
Support projects post-SOP: oversee sustaining engineering activities, monitor production performance, coordinate issue resolution, and manage engineering change requests (ECRs).
Develop and maintain project documentation: project plans, status reports, risk registers, RACI matrices, and lessons learned — ensuring full transparency for all stakeholders.
Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate project risks; escalate blockers with proposed solutions rather than problems alone.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, Project Management, or a related technical field.
3+ years of hands-on project management experience in manufacturing, hardware development, or a related technical industry.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong understanding of project lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and external suppliers/contractors.
Proficiency with project management tools (Jira, Asana, MS Project, or similar).
Excellent communication skills — able to translate technical details for non-technical stakeholders and vice versa.
Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to make decisions under uncertainty.
Nice to Have
PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
Experience in UAV, robotics, defense hardware, or aerospace industries.
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies combined with hardware development processes.
Experience with NPI (New Product Introduction) processes and production ramp-up.
Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems for resource and production planning.
Comfort working in ambiguous, rapidly evolving startup environments.
Together We Will
Work in a dynamic and mission-driven environment where your work has real national impact.
Have the opportunity to build project management culture from the ground up in an innovative UAV company.
Work alongside a senior-level, multidisciplinary team of engineers and operators.
Full-time position & official employment.
Competitive salary (level to be discussed individually based on interview results).
Reservation from mobilization.
We are an international defense startup, rapidly expanding to support the Ukrainian national needs. As a startup, we operate in a highly flexible environment where agility, adaptability, and a hands-on approach are critical for success.
Position Overview
We are looking for an experienced and driven Project Manager to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives across our UAV development and manufacturing operations. This role exists to bring structure, clarity, and momentum to our growing portfolio of projects — from hardware development and production ramp-up to supplier coordination and customer delivery.
You will join our Operations team, working closely with engineering, production, procurement, and quality functions. In a fast-moving startup environment, your ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and keep multiple workstreams on track will be critical to our mission and growth.
Key Responsibilities
Build and lead cross-functional project teams from scratch: define roles and responsibilities, onboard team members, and establish effective working practices and communication norms.
Plan projects from zero: develop full project plans including scope definition, work breakdown structure (WBS), resource planning, budget estimation, risk assessment, and milestone scheduling.
Execute and monitor projects across all lifecycle phases — from concept and development through pre-production, pilot builds, and ramp-up — ensuring quality gates and timelines are met at every stage.
Drive projects to Start of Production (SOP): coordinate readiness across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain to achieve SOP on time and within budget.
Act as the primary point of contact for customers: manage expectations, communicate project status and risks, handle escalations, and maintain strong long-term relationships.
Support projects post-SOP: oversee sustaining engineering activities, monitor production performance, coordinate issue resolution, and manage engineering change requests (ECRs).
Develop and maintain project documentation: project plans, status reports, risk registers, RACI matrices, and lessons learned — ensuring full transparency for all stakeholders.
Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate project risks; escalate blockers with proposed solutions rather than problems alone.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, Project Management, or a related technical field.
3+ years of hands-on project management experience in manufacturing, hardware development, or a related technical industry.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong understanding of project lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and external suppliers/contractors.
Proficiency with project management tools (Jira, Asana, MS Project, or similar).
Excellent communication skills — able to translate technical details for non-technical stakeholders and vice versa.
Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to make decisions under uncertainty.
Nice to Have
PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
Experience in UAV, robotics, defense hardware, or aerospace industries.
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies combined with hardware development processes.
Experience with NPI (New Product Introduction) processes and production ramp-up.
Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems for resource and production planning.
Comfort working in ambiguous, rapidly evolving startup environments.
Together We Will
Work in a dynamic and mission-driven environment where your work has real national impact.
Have the opportunity to build project management culture from the ground up in an innovative UAV company.
Work alongside a senior-level, multidisciplinary team of engineers and operators.
Full-time position & official employment.
Competitive salary (level to be discussed individually based on interview results).
Reservation from mobilization.