Technical Project Manager
Job description
USA.
About the role
ALTEN Technology connects engineering teams to demanding programs in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. The role guides complex technical programs through execution and delivery while protecting engineering focus.
Operations teams keep a business running smoothly. They manage processes, vendors, and logistics across the company. The work includes planning, coordination, and continuous improvement. Strong operators are organized, pragmatic, and comfortable with change. Operations teams run on routines, checklists, and clear escalation paths. Most companies expect operators to document what they do so anyone can step in.
Key facts
What you'll do
Milestone ownership drives on-time delivery by surfacing and removing blockers that threaten schedules.
JIRA and reporting rituals evolve to let engineers manage work through the system rather than through manual admin.
Cross-functional request control defines and closes stakeholder dependencies so work flows without disruption.
Executive translation turns shifting technical complexity into concise, actionable updates for leadership.
Requirements
Project management experience over two years supports handling concurrent automotive technical projects.
Resource management software such as JIRA structures plans and tracks asset availability against timelines.
A record of delivering multiple complex automotive programs in parallel demonstrates execution capability.
Understanding of vehicle testing and development reveals system interactions and dependencies.
Prototype or pre-production vehicle testing experience aligns methods with real hardware programs.
Board, workflow, and dashboard design provides real-time visibility without creating admin debt for engineers.
A closure mindset drives ownership, follows through without supervision, and prevents scope creep in fast-moving settings.
Composed communication turns moving priorities into clear direction under pressure.
Nice to have
Mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering backgrounds broaden domain context.
Startup or high-growth execution experience shapes how programs scale.
Vehicle development cycle familiarity aligns planning with hardware rhythms.
Autonomous vehicle platforms and software practices connect technical work to advanced systems.
Skills & tools
Program and portfolio management methods coordinate stakeholders across programs.
Testing and prototype hardware workflows influence planning and risk responses.
Practical notes
The role is based in Foster City, California, and operates within ALTEN's equal opportunity framework. Employment decisions follow federal contractor rules under VEVRAA and Executive Order 11246, with drug screening required at hire. Typical interview steps
Operations interviews usually include a process scenario, an analytics question, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to improve a workflow or plan an event. Attention to detail and clear communication are tested throughout. Interviewers often ask how you would fix a process that is failing. Walking through diagnosis, a plan, and measurement is the winning structure.
Good to know
Technical project management in this setting relies on concise status translation and rigorous workflow design. Teams protect engineering capacity by automating reporting and minimizing manual oversight. Domain programs span aerospace, medical devices, robotics, and autonomous vehicles, requiring adaptable collaboration. Success depends on clear ownership, structured boards, and steady communication under shifting priorities. The role balances execution discipline with professional growth and mentorship support.
Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.
Career growth
Operations careers grow from coordinator to manager, director, and chief operating officer roles. Some people specialize in supply chain, facilities, or program management. Success depends on reliability and on improving the systems you own. Operations careers reward reliability and continuous improvement. Operators who quantify the impact of their fixes move into leadership fastest.