Technical Program Manager

Description

Technical Program Manager

About ACT

Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is a leading provider of thermal management solutions for aerospace, defense, data centers, energy, and industrial applications. For more than 20 years, ACT has engineered and manufactured innovative technologies that solve complex thermal challenges in demanding environments.

Our team is driven by innovation, teamwork, and customer care, delivering reliable solutions that support critical missions and next-generation technologies worldwide.

Position Summary

ACT is seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager to lead complex thermal product and system development programs from concept through qualification and transition to production.

In this role, you will be responsible for overall program execution, including schedule, budget, scope, technical performance, and customer requirements. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, manufacturing, functional leadership, suppliers, and customers to ensure successful program delivery.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of hardware development with proven program management and leadership skills, bringing teams together to solve challenges, manage risks, and deliver results.

What You'll Do

• Lead the execution of complex thermal product and subsystem development programs, from initial concept and design through prototyping, qualification, and production handoff.
• Develop and manage comprehensive program plans, including schedules, budgets, resource requirements, milestones, and deliverables.
• Monitor program performance against schedule, cost, technical, and quality objectives, identifying risks and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Serve as the primary program point of contact for customers, internal engineering teams, functional managers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across engineering, manufacturing, and multiple business units to ensure alignment on program objectives, priorities, and deliverables.
• Partner with functional managers to identify resource needs, coordinate staffing priorities, and resolve resource constraints.
• Plan and facilitate program milestones, technical reviews, and decision points, including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and Qualification Test Reviews (QTR).
• Oversee the coordination of prototype builds, testing, qualification activities, and hardware transition to production, ensuring compliance with customer and internal requirements.
• Apply systems engineering principles to support requirements management, technical integration, configuration control, and risk-based decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve program management processes, communication, cross-functional collaboration, and overall execution effectiveness.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems, Thermal, or a related engineering or technical discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in engineering, hardware development, or technical program management, including direct responsibility for managing technical projects or programs, preferably within the aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional engineering or hardware development projects or programs.
• Working knowledge of hardware development lifecycles, systems engineering principles, and technical qualification processes.
• Experience developing and managing project or program schedules, budgets, resources, and risks.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to coordinate resources and drive accountability within a matrixed organizational structure.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to customers, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while maintaining focus on program objectives and customer expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Highly preferred: Experience with thermal management systems or related thermal hardware development.
• Highly preferred: U.S. Person status, as defined under applicable U.S. export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).
• 8+ years of progressive experience in engineering, hardware development, or technical program management, including demonstrated responsibility for leading complex, cross-functional programs.
• Experience managing programs through design, prototype development, testing, qualification, and transition to production.
• Experience developing flight hardware, space-rated components, or other highly regulated products.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM), phase-gate development processes, risk management, configuration management, and AS9100 quality systems.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, or similar professional certification.
• Experience managing programs involving multiple business units or profit centers.