Program Manager – Robotics Hardware, Software Firmware

Overview

Program Manager – Robotics Hardware, Software, & Firmware

At Wing Xpand®. Locations:
Chicago (Schaumburg), IL. Type:
Full-time | Open 2/20/26 | Close 3/3/26.

Wing Xpand is Expanding What’s Possible™ with Autonomous Systems, building long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems that support defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. Our platforms operate across air, ground, and maritime domains, integrating autonomy, AI-powered sensing, edge computing, and networked systems to deliver real-world intelligence and threat detection. We design, build, and deploy complete systems — hardware, software, and data — and we move fast.

As Wing Xpand scales, we are seeking high performers to grow with our team.

Wing Xpand is seeking a Program / Project Manager – Hardware & Software to lead execution across multi-disciplinary engineering teams, including hardware, software, and electrical engineering. This role is ideal for a technically grounded product manager who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving hard problems, and can move seamlessly between strategy, execution, and customer engagement. You will work hands-on with engineers, executives, and customers to deliver Wing Xpand’s core products, meet contract milestones, and shape future product roadmaps.

This is a high-ownership role with direct visibility to leadership and real impact on fielded autonomous systems.

• Lead multi-disciplinary product development across hardware, software, and electrical engineering teams, driving execution from concept to deployment.
• Manage scrum and agile processes using Click Up (or similar tools) to ensure projects are organized, on-time, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Own and deliver on complex contract execution plans—tracking milestones, deliverables, and new product roadmaps across multiple customers.
• Serve as the primary conduit between C-suite and engineering, translating strategy into actionable tasks and ensuring engineers are aligned with business priorities.
• Engage directly with customers, translating their needs into technical requirements and MVP strategies to rapidly deliver feedback-driven results.
• Support business development by crafting technically-grounded proposal content and collaborating on customer engagement strategies.
• Brief senior leadership with crisp, technical summaries and timeline updates while diving deep with engineers to resolve execution challenges.
• Rapidly build trust with technical teams by demonstrating a hands-on, self-starting approach to understanding the full product ecosystem.

• 3+ years of direct program / project management experience with demonstrated success managing hardware and software development in tandem.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or a related discipline, MBA, or certifications in scrum, agile, or systems engineering are a strong plus.
• Led projects using Agile/Scrum frameworks, facilitating sprint planning, standups, retrospectives, and backlog prioritization.
• Expertise with agile tools like Click Up, Jira, or Asana for managing complex engineering workflows.
• Proven ability to lead without micromanaging, ensuring teams are unblocked and timelines are met—or exceeded.
• Comfortable getting into the weeds with technical contributors while presenting clear takeaways to non-technical stakeholders.
• Passionate about building solutions that deliver real-world impact and shape the future of robotics.

• Personal or professional experience with robotics, drones, RC aircraft, or maker projects (e.g., hackathons, DIY builds, hobby flying).
• Experience working at high-growth startups where speed, autonomy, and clarity of communication are critical.
• Technical background in aerospace, robotics, AI, defense, or a related engineering field.
• Familiarity with hardware prototyping
• Experience with field testing autonomous or edge AI systems in real-world environments.
• Passion for emerging tech and a track record of exploring new tools, platforms, or frameworks for fun or innovation.

To conform to U.S. Government aerospace technology export regulations, applicant must be a 'U.S. Person' (U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder).

If you are a self-motivated, results-driven individual with a passion for innovation and technology, we want to hear from you!

Apply with your resume and optional cover letter (CV), including the types of engineering or technical roles you have hired.