Executive Project Manager to the VP Engineering

About Us

STARK is building the next generation of defence technology — autonomous, software-defined, mass-scalable systems that operate across air, land, and maritime domains. Our software platform is the cognitive core of these systems: autonomy, navigation, targeting, sensing, mission control, and ground-station UI all come together here.

The software organization works as a platform team supporting multiple hardware programs simultaneously. All unmanned systems of the STARK family rely on the same software platform evolving rapidly, reliably, and intelligently. The software teams are based in multiple locations across Europe and Ukraine.

To keep this velocity without losing clarity, and to help our VP Software scale the software organization, we are hiring an Executive Project Manager to the VP Engineering.

QualificationsExperience

• 4+ years in program/project management, product, operations, consulting, or similar roles — ideally in complex engineering environments.

• Experience with both software-first environments and cross-functional engineering teams is a plus. 

• Automotive, aerospace or related industry background where hardware-software integration is a key element of the product is also a plus.

• Defence, robotics, or embedded-systems exposure is helpful — but organizational thinking and execution discipline matter more.

You Have the Following Qualities

• You are calm in chaos. You bring clarity when things get confusing and help others stay grounded.

• You notice the problems others miss. Risks, dependencies, tensions — you catch them early.

• You think in systems. You understand how teams fit together and how decisions ripple across an organization.

• You thrive in ambiguity. You don't wait for fully formed instructions — you shape them.

• You communicate crisply. Whether it's written, spoken, or summarizing complex technical context, you make things simple.

• You build trust quickly. You operate with discretion, integrity, and a low-ego attitude.

• You act like an owner. You move fast and follow through.

• You get things done.

Tools & Mindset

• Comfortable using Jira, Confluence, planning tools, and whatever the team needs to run well.

• Highly proactive, structured, and capable of independently pushing things across the finish line.

• Able to work closely with engineers without needing to be one.

• Sensible handling classified information and B2G customers

Why STARK

• Work directly with senior engineering leaders shaping cutting-edge autonomous systems.

• High-trust environment with significant responsibility from day one.

• Your work directly impacts urgent defence capability for NATO-aligned nations.

• Opportunity to influence the organizational and operational backbone of our software platform.

• Learn more, faster, than almost anywhere else.

Your mission

Be the VP Software's right hand — the operational and strategic force that keeps the software team aligned, high-performing, and able to execute across multiple hardware programs at once.

This role is high-trust, high-visibility, and high-impact. You will move between strategic thinking and hands-on coordination daily. You will bring clarity into messy environments. You will see risks before others do. You will translate technical complexity into clear decisions. And you will help a fast-growing engineering team stay focused on what matters most.

We are not looking for a "process administrator." We are looking for someone who:

• thrives in chaos,

• loves solving organizational puzzles,

• communicates crisply,

• keeps teams aligned when stakes are high,

and turns ambiguity into direction.ResponsibilitiesDrive Cross-Program Alignment and Software Delivery

• Align ambitious software team goals with hardware program goals and drive software delivery

• Track timelines, unblock teams, and adjust plans as new realities emerge

• Make sure everyone has the same picture of priorities, trade-offs, and upcoming deliverables

• Solve prioritization conflicts across software teams and hardware programs

• Define and enforce quality, safety and security standards

• Prepare for audits and certifications

Continuously Improve the Delivery System and Grow People

• Shape the software team's 'operating system' that embraces autonomy and speed and ensures in-time, in-quality delivery

• Maintain clear interfaces with other R&D functions like hardware, system engineering, flight testing as well as Production and the leadership team

• Create lightweight but robust processes: planning cadences, reporting frameworks, alignment rituals, dashboards, documentation standards. The goal is to adhere to high quality standards of the defence industry without slowing down

• Foster a continuous improvement work environment where software engineers and product owners can thrive and grow

• Support hiring for key positions in the growing software organization

Be the VP Software's Strategic Partner

• Prepare decision-ready briefs, technical summaries, risk assessments, and recommendations

• Help the VP Software focus on what only they can do and be able to catch everything else

• Represent the VP when needed in meetings, working groups, or cross-functional discussions

• Run high impact initiatives with company-wide impact

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