Technical Program Manager / RF Systems

About Us

Quartermaster is building the world's most comprehensive maritime intelligence platform. Our SmartMast™ system transforms commercial and civilian vessels into a persistent, distributed sensing network—combining HD video, AI, radar, RF sensing, and AIS to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness at global scale. With 600+ sensors deployed across 25+ countries and more than 400,000 vessels identified outside of AIS, we are setting a new standard for what ocean surveillance and safety can look like. We are a mission-driven, high-velocity team building dual-use technology for defense agencies, coast guards, and commercial maritime operators.

Job Description

Quartermaster is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Technical Program Manager (TPM) to drive execution across complex, multi-disciplinary RF engineering programs. In this role, you will coordinate efforts across hardware, software, manufacturing, and operations teams to ensure the ruggedized RF sensing systems that will define Quartermaster’s future capabilities are delivered on time, on spec, and ready for deployment.

You’ll serve as the connective tissue between technical contributors, strategic milestones, and customers while tracking progress, identifying risks and requirements, and enabling decision-making at all levels. You'll contribute technical judgment in engineering discussions, own relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliers, and connect engineering with customers, growth, operations, and other engineering teams. The role has a direct line to leadership and broad ownership of how the RF capability grows.

Key Responsibilities:

Build the strategic roadmap and execution plan for the RF sensing capability with the lead engineers, turning customer needs and leadership goals into programs, milestones, and resourcing decisions.

Lead multiple RF product lines from prototype through production ramp and fielding, including integrated schedules, critical path, and risk across hardware, embedded systems, and software tracks.

Manage contract manufacturers, design partners, and component suppliers: builds, quotes, first articles, test and acceptance, long-lead and single-source procurement, and scaling capacity to volume.

Coordinate a blended team of employees and contractors, defining scope and statements of work, track deliverables, and hold partners accountable.

Participate in technical design and test discussions with enough technical depth to spot risks, challenge assumptions, and turn trade-offs into decisions for leadership.

Build and grow the team: define roles, write job descriptions, run hiring loops, and onboard new engineers and partners.

Build connections with customers, growth, operations, finance, and other engineering teams, making sure commitments to customers match what engineering can deliver.

Drive production readiness: manufacturing test, calibration and provisioning throughput, compliance and certification planning, and field support.

Qualifications (Preferred):

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field, or equivalent hands-on RF/hardware engineering experience.

5+ years in technical program management, systems engineering, or hardware engineering on RF, wireless, or embedded hardware products.

A record of delivering in ambiguous, low-requirement environments, creating the plan, structure, and ownership rather than waiting for them.

Proven track record managing complex, multi-phase programs with hardware/software integration.

Technical fluency across RF, digital hardware, and embedded software

A strong cross-functional network builder who gets results through influence across teams they don't manage.

Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with the ability to translate between technical and executive audiences.

Proven track record managing complex, multi-phase programs with hardware/software integration.

Strong familiarity with agile, hybrid, and milestone-driven development methodologies

Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with the ability to translate between technical and executive audiences.

Experience with tools like Jira, Confluence, Gantt software, or other collaboration platforms

Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Bonus: background in maritime, aerospace, defense, or field-deployed sensing systems.

Work Environment:

Hybrid, with regular time at our Arlington, VA office and occasional local travel to lab facilities in Maryland.

Periodic travel to contract manufacturers, partners, and customers.

Flexible working hours with occasional deadlines requiring high availability.