Senior Project Manager

About Us STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

Your mission Drive the successful execution of next-generation autonomous defence technology programs. As a Project Manager at STARK, you lead cross-functional teams across engineering, supply chain, and external partners to deliver mission-ready systems on time and to specification. You translate complex technical development into structured program delivery while ensuring alignment between engineering progress and strategic mission objectives.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end execution of complex development programs, defining milestones, managing budgets, and ensuring delivery against technical and operational requirements.

Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between hardware and software engineering, production, and procurement teams to maintain alignment on critical program paths.

Act as a central interface between engineering teams, leadership, and external partners, translating technical challenges into actionable program decisions.

Identify and proactively manage technical, operational, and logistical risks, implementing mitigation strategies to keep programs on track.

Develop and implement scalable project management and PMO processes to support STARK’s transition from startup to structured, high-output defense organization.

Plan and optimize resource allocation with team leads to ensure engineering capacity is deployed where it delivers the highest program impact.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Engineering, Business Administration with technical affinity, or a comparable field; a combined technical and business background is preferred.

7+ years of professional experience in project or program management, ideally within defense, aerospace, or high-tech hardware environments.

Familiarity with complex systems integration and, ideally, defense procurement processes or NATO standards.

Experience applying agile or structured project management methodologies to hardware or complex technical product development.

Strong proficiency with modern project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace, and Microsoft tools.

Excellent communication skills in English and German, with the ability to engage in technical discussions and provide clear executive-level updates.

Strong ownership mindset with the ability to operate in high-velocity, mission-critical environments.