Senior Technical Program Manager

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. We have been flying real missions with real customers since 2017.

Our V2 carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles and our V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000 miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a dual-hybrid design that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane. We are currently flying on three continents, in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight, and in support of U.S. military operations.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we are moving from prototype to full-rate production with a path to Program of Record. Based in Austin, we are scaling fast and hiring people who want to build the world's largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft.

The Opportunity

Skyways is hiring its first Technical Program Manager to help drive execution across our aircraft development programs. This role sits at the center of engineering, manufacturing, flight operations, and customer programs, ensuring complex technical work stays coordinated and key milestones are delivered.

You will take customer requirements and translate them into clear internal plans, timelines, and owners. From there, you’ll work across teams to track progress, surface risks early, and keep programs moving forward.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys operating in the middle of complex technical work, coordinating teams, managing program details, and helping the company deliver real aircraft systems to customers.

What You'll Do:

Own day to day program execution across aircraft development programs, ensuring milestones, schedules, and deliverables stay on track

Translate customer requirements and contract commitments into clear internal timelines, tasks, and owners across teams

Track dependencies across engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to ensure teams stay aligned and programs continue moving forward

Identify program risks, blockers, or resource gaps early and drive resolution across teams

Maintain program schedules and ensure deliverables align with program milestones and customer expectations

Lead program reviews and provide clear updates on progress, risks, and next steps to leadership and customers

Support multiple programs including STRATFI and commercial deployments as Skyways continues to scale

What You'll Bring:

Experience delivering programs for aircraft, UAVs, robotics, or other complex hardware systems

Experience owning program execution from planning through delivery including milestones, schedules, and cross team coordination

Experience coordinating work across engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to drive program execution

Ability to translate customer requirements and contract deliverables into clear internal plans and priorities

Enough technical understanding to engage engineers, ask strong questions, and understand system tradeoffs

Experience supporting the development, testing, or deployment of physical hardware systems

Comfortable running program reviews, tracking issues, and communicating program status with leadership and customers

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple programs or workstreams at the same time

Bonus Points:

• Experience working with defense customers or government programs

• Experience coordinating flight tests, field deployments, or operational launches

• Startup or early stage hardware company experience where program processes were still evolving

• Familiarity with FAA, DoD, or other regulated aerospace program environments

Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!

Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.