Technical Project Manager - Propulsion & Pyrotechnics
Destinus · Zürich
About the Role
As the Destinus propulsion team scales, we are building a dedicated group of Technical Project Managers to own execution of product development programmes, covering solid rocket motors, pyrotechnic components, and related systems. This frees our engineers to focus on technical depth, and our team leads on strategic leadership.
As one of the first hires in this group, you will manage projects and help build the PM structure itself alongside team leads and fellow TPMs. You own execution, schedule, coordination, risk, and delivery. The engineers run the technical depth; you run the programme.
What You’ll Do
- Own end-to-end execution of product development programmes, from kick-off through hardware build, test campaigns, qualification, and delivery
- Build and maintain programme plans covering engineering, manufacturing, procurement, testing, and regulatory dependencies, identify and resolve critical path risks early
- Run programme reviews and cross-functional coordination meetings, keep decisions documented and actions closed
- Work closely with propulsion and pyrotechnics engineers to track technical progress and translate it into clear programme status
- Manage external dependencies: supplier lead times, test facility scheduling, regulatory submissions, and customer milestones
- Proactively flag scope creep, resource conflicts, and schedule risk to the department head, with options, not just problems
- Contribute to building the PM structure, tools, and ways of working for the department alongside team leads and fellow TPMs
Requirements
What You’ll Need
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, systems, or a related engineering discipline
- 3–6 years in a hardware-heavy development environment; at least 2 in a project management, programme coordination, or technical lead role
- Background in aerospace, defence, or a similarly regulated hardware domain; familiarity with hardware development and military qualification cycles is essential
- Experience in or exposure to rocket motor, pyrotechnic, or ammunition development programmes is a strong advantage
- Able to manage multiple concurrent projects across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and testing 6. Strong systems thinking, able to see the full picture, spot where the hard problems are likely to sit, and know when to dive into detail without losing sight of the overall programme
- Strong planning and organizational skills, able to build a programme schedule from scratch, identify critical path, and keep it current
- Comfortable building structure in an ambiguous environment, pragmatic over bureaucratic
- Clear, direct communicator in English; German is an advantage