Project Manager - Aerospace & Defense Demonstrations & Experimen

About this role:

The Project Manager - Demonstrations & Experiments is responsible for the technical and logistical execution of live, integrated events that showcase advanced communications systems for our DoD and industry partners. This includes everything from planning and design through deployment and on-site execution. You'll work alongside talented engineers and program leads to plan, coordinate, and execute demonstrations involving pLEO SATCOM, HF/VHF/UHF and tactical radios, antennas, power systems, network infrastructure, and mission software. You'll translate objectives into executable plans, assemble the right team, and lead the charge from concept to field success-all while managing the approvals, logistics, and coordination that make complex demos work flawlessly.

What you'll do:

Plan and Execute Complex Demonstrations

• Lead the end-to-end execution of technical demonstrations and field experiments.
• Coordinate equipment, travel, personnel, and site logistics to ensure smooth, on-time delivery.
• Oversee setup, integration, and test of communication systems in operational environments.
• Drive Technical Coordination
• Work with engineering teams to integrate diverse systems including pLEO SATCOM terminals, HF/VHF/UHF and tactical radios, antennas, routers, power supplies, and software-defined network components.
• Translate customer and internal requirements into actionable system and test plans.
• Manage Approvals and Compliance
• Coordinate key pre-mission approvals including:
• Spectrum (TFA)
• Cyber (IATT)
• Datalink/Timeslot (QTTR)
• Partner with government sponsors and operational test authorities to ensure compliance.
• Lead Teams and Align Resources
• Assemble and manage engineering teams of varying size and scope.
• Balance personnel, equipment, budgets, and schedules across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Serve as the connective tissue between project stakeholders, leadership, and external partners.
• Deliver Mission-Ready Results
• Maintain accountability for performance, schedule, and cost.
• Ensure every demonstration advances Fuse's mission of delivering connected warfighter capability-safely, securely, and on time.
• Provide input for tactical scenarios and Fuse design reference missions
• Understand and translate operational needs into system requirements
• Support Warfighter Workshops and requirements generation
• Work closely with Project Managers and Engineering teams to translate operational needs into technical requirements and designs
• Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Tactical Data Links, communications systems plans, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, tactical waveforms, link planning and allocation, Information Exchange Requirements (IERs), and spectrum requirements
• Attend planning conferences and warfighter community events
• Support planning factors and timelines for fleet demonstrations and exercises
• Coordinate frequency allocation and participation for IP and other data nodes
• Interface with fleet operational users and institutions
• Gather and present planning considerations related to operational laydowns and relevance to system development
• Travel of 6-8 weeks per year to support planning conferences and demonstrations

We are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, technical management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years of experience managing complex technical projects, ideally in aerospace, defense, or telecommunications.
• Working knowledge of communications systems such as SATCOM, tactical radios, and IP-based networks.
• Strong organizational skills with proven ability to manage logistics, schedules, and field operations.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across technical and leadership teams.
• Eligibility to obtain and/or maintain a U.S. Secret clearance.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%, including field demonstrations and experiments.

Nice to have:

• Experience supporting DoD or defense-industry demonstrations, flight tests, or field exercises.
• Familiarity with DoD approval processes (TFA, IATT, QTTR, etc.).
• PMP or DAU project management certification.
• Background in RF systems integration, network engineering, or C4ISR systems.

Who You Are

• Mission-driven: You care deeply about delivering solutions that make a difference for the warfighter.
• Technically curious: You don't need to be an expert in every system-but you ask the right questions and connect the dots.
• Execution-focused: You thrive in dynamic, hands-on environments and know how to turn a plan into reality.
• Collaborative leader: You build trust, empower others, and know when to lead from the front or support from behind.