Flight Program Manager

Job description

WHY WE EXIST: Swarmer develops software that makes drones autonomous and allows them to operate together, in large, coordinated teams — no pilots needed. Our technology has been battle-tested in Ukraine— the world’s most intense proving ground for drone warfare. In March 2026, we became the first Ukrainian defense startup to go public on NASDAQ, following a $15M Series A —one of the largest investments in a Ukrainian defense tech company since the start of the war. Working at Swarmer means operating at the intersection of engineering rigor and frontline reality. The problems and environments are complex, and the stakes are very real. We built this software to enable democratic nations to defend themselves. If you are motivated by building resilient systems that matter and by seeing the direct impact of your work, you’ll find purpose here. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR: We are looking for a Flight Program Manager to drive the operational delivery and field readiness of our Flight and Lab teams. This is a hands-on role: you will bridge the gap between R&D, hardware manufacturing, and real-world mission deployment. We need someone who can own the operational lifecycle of flight assets, ensuring that hardware, software, and ground infrastructure are mission-ready. You will turn engineering requirements into executable schedules, manage physical supply chain dependencies for drones and components, and ensure that our teams are unblocked for field testing. The right person is comfortable in high-uncertainty, mission-critical environments where requirements change rapidly, and physical constraints are as important as software code. WHAT YOU’LL DO: - Help teams clarify scope, success criteria, acceptance criteria, delivery risks, and readiness for field testing or release. - Manage and own the end-to-end delivery of Flight and Lab team missions. - Drive regular syncs, reviews, and escalation routines for critical initiatives. - Lead the planning, scheduling, and execution of R&D flight tasks, including documenting and tracking ad hoc priority activities. - Coordinate all stakeholders involved in flight operations to ensure alignment with company and team priorities. - Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of flight equipment: coordinate the manufacturing, retrofitting, and procurement of drones, and ensure the availability and readiness of all required ground infrastructure components. - Maintain rigorous status, risk, and resource tracking specifically for flight and lab team throughput. - Drive the operational readiness of all flight and lab assets for field testing and mission deployment. - Help leadership see the real picture: what is on track, what is blocked, what is unclear, and where decisions are required. WHAT WE NEED: - 4+ years of experience in project management, program management, delivery management, technical program management, or similar roles. - Proven ability to manage the end-to-end delivery cycle—from R&D prototyping to field readiness and mission deployment. - Strong capability to manage resource dependencies, including equipment procurement, manufacturing coordination, and supply chain tracking for field assets. - Ability to work closely with engineering teams to bridge the gap between lab-based R&D and real-world performance. - Ability to create clear, action-oriented reporting for leadership, focusing specifically on operational blockers, equipment availability, and field mission status. - Good written and verbal communication in English, excellent Ukrainian. - Ability to create clear executive-level reporting without hiding complexity or overloading people with noise. - Comfortable working in high-uncertainty environments where requirements, priorities, and constraints can change quickly. - High ownership, persistence, and operational discipline. - Strong risk-management mindset: you naturally ask what can fail, what is blocked, what is unverified, and what decision is missing. - Readiness to work with sensitive defense-related information and follow strict operational security practices. WHAT WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE: - Experience in drone/UAV operations, robotics, aerospace, or embedded systems development. - Experience in startups or fast-scaling product companies. - Experience with field testing, pilot programs, demo preparation, customer trials, or production-readiness processes. - Experience working with military, government, security, or regulated customers. - Background in engineering, product management, operations, or business analysis. WHAT YOU’LL GET: - A dynamic environment with a unique opportunity to directly influence and see the impact of your work. - A mission-driven role in a company building technology that directly supports Ukrainian and global defense capabilities. - The opportunity to work on one of the most advanced and practically tested autonomy products in the defense-tech market. - Direct exposure to real users, real operational constraints, and real product impact — not abstract corporate roadmaps. - A high-ownership culture where initiative, clarity, and execution matter more than bureaucracy. - Close collaboration with experienced founders, engineers, product leaders, and field teams. - Space to shape program management practices from the ground up as the company scales. - Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including insurance, paid sick leave, and 20 paid days off per year. - Flexible remote work options where possible. HOW THE HIRING PROCESS WORKS: ✔️ Recruiter Screen → ✔️ Interview with Hiring Manager → ✔️ Test Task → ✔️ Final Interview → ✔️ Security check → ✔️ Offer Ready to Apply?