Technical Program Manager
Austin, TX
Program Management – Technical Program Management /
Full-time /
On-site
At Skyways, we are building a new form of air transportation—what some call the flying car. Backed by fresh funding and a major STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we’re uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of aviation innovation. Our fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent a breakthrough opportunity to move goods—and soon, people—in ways that are faster, safer, and more efficient than ever before. Unlike anyone else in the industry, our strategy blends rapid iteration with real-world deployment, and it’s already paying off.
Skyways is a fast-growing startup based in Austin, TX, supported by top Silicon Valley investors including Y Combinator. Though we’re early-stage, our vehicles are already in production and in the hands of paying commercial customers (see here and here). With robust financial backing and government partnerships accelerating our momentum, there’s never been a better time to join us and help build the future of transportation!
The Opportunity
We are looking for our first Technical Program Manager at Skyways! This is a big opportunity for someone interested in joining a startup with a lot of traction, contracts, revenue, and at an inflection point as we're scaling up. If you're looking for a an adventure, you've come to the right place!
What You'll Do:
- Lead daily stand-ups and weekly program reviews, ensuring clear action items and accountability.
- Proactively identify and resolve technical blockers and cross-functional dependencies.
- Communicate program status, risks, and key decisions to internal teams and leadership.
- Develop, track, and update detailed program schedules and resource plans, including managing staff and budget.
- Facilitate technical discussions and decision-making between engineering teams and external partners.
- Orchestrate intricate technical interdependencies across engineering disciplines and external partners, ensuring seamless progress and proactive problem resolution.
- Manage issue tracking for projects.
- Oversee contract management, including writing and negotiation.
- Define and track project milestones.
- Directly contribute to Skyways' mission by ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of our autonomous aircraft, accelerating our path to mass production and global deployment for critical military and commercial logistics
What You'll Bring:
- Demonstrated experience driving complex hardware development programs from concept to production, ideally in aerospace, robotics, or a highly regulated environment.
- Strong understanding of product development lifecycles.
- Proficiency with project management software (Asana) and G Suite.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of an organization.
- Strong leadership presence and ability to influence without direct authority.
- Superior problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
- High level of organizational skill and attention to detail.
- Proactive, self-starter with a strong bias for action.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to thrive in a dynamic, rapidly evolving environment.
Bonus Points If You Have:
- Experience with autonomous systems, aviation, or defense programs.
- Familiarity with airworthiness certification processes (e.g., FAA, DoD).
- Knowledge of systems engineering principles.
- Experience in a fast-paced startup environment.
- PMP or equivalent program management certification.
- Experience with PLM/PDM systems.
Why Join Skyways?
- Mission: To create a new form of transportation to advance our civilization. Be part of a well-funded, rapidly growing startup at the forefront of a transformative industry, solving real-world problems with tangible impact for both commercial and military applications.
- Growth: Be instrumental in scaling our rapidly growing product portfolio and operational capabilities, with the potential for future growth into a team lead role.
- Ownership: Take ownership of critical technical programs, driving them from concept to deployment, directly influencing the development of autonomous aircraft that are already operational.
- Culture: Work with a passionate and collaborative team of brilliant, mission-driven engineers and operators. We foster a culture of technical excellence, rapid iteration, and shared commitment to safety and innovation. You'll have direct collaboration with experienced leadership.
Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!
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.
