Senior Technical Project Manager

SENIOR TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER (LEVEL III) Zero Point Energy Labs | SPHERES INC.

Location

Gardena, California Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site Department: Operations & Program Management Compensation: $95,000–$120,000 annually Export Control Requirement: Due to U.S. export control regulations, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR (22 CFR § 120.62), including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and other individuals qualifying as protected persons under applicable law.

ABOUT ZERO POINT ENERGY LABS

Zero Point Energy Labs, a division of SPHERES INC., develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion battery packs and proprietary thermal management systems for aerospace, defense, robotics, and other high-performance applications. Our operations integrate electrical engineering, mechanical design, materials science, and precision manufacturing to deliver custom energy systems for demanding technical applications.

We are seeking a Senior Technical Project Manager (Level III) to lead multiple customer programs from initial requirements through engineering, prototyping, production, and delivery. The ideal candidate is technically proficient, highly organized, adaptable, and capable of taking ownership of complex projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Program Management & Execution

Lead concurrent customer programs, prioritizing projects based on technical requirements, development phases, deadlines, and resources. Develop project plans defining scope, milestones, schedules, deliverables, and assigned responsibilities. Maintain a centralized tracking system covering engineering progress, procurement, production readiness, and delivery commitments.

Identify scheduling conflicts, resource constraints, and execution risks, coordinating solutions to maintain progress. Conduct program reviews with engineering, production, and leadership to establish priorities and resolve outstanding issues. Maintain accountability for assigned programs, ensuring objectives are achieved within established requirements and schedules.

Customer Requirements & Technical Coordination

• Serve as a primary customer contact, gathering and documenting technical specifications, operational requirements, and program objectives.
• Review statements of work (SOWs), engineering specifications, drawings, and supporting documentation to establish project scope.
• Identify missing information, clarify technical requirements, and ensure proposed solutions align with customer program needs.
• Coordinate with engineering teams to evaluate feasibility and translate customer requirements into actionable tasks.
• Track engineering deliverables, including CAD models, mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, BOMs, and technical documentation.
• Maintain requirements traceability throughout design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery.
• Coordinate design reviews, engineering changes, technical approvals, and resolution of outstanding questions.
• Evaluate the impact of requirement changes on scope, cost, schedules, and manufacturing.

Production Planning & Resource Coordination

Collaborate with the Production Manager to establish manufacturing schedules, priorities, and resource allocation. Identify project-specific materials, components, equipment, personnel, and documentation requirements. Coordinate procurement and monitor supplier lead times, material availability, and purchasing dependencies.

Track prototype development, production readiness, manufacturing progress, and testing milestones. Ensure required engineering documentation and materials are available before production begins. Resolve manufacturing bottlenecks and coordinate project handoffs between engineering, production, quality control, and shipping.

Client Communication & Stakeholder Management Maintain direct customer communication, providing updates on engineering progress, production schedules, and delivery expectations. Lead customer meetings and technical reviews, documenting decisions, action items, and outstanding requirements.

Coordinate engineering responses to inquiries involving mechanical design, electrical specifications, integration, and manufacturing feasibility. Communicate technical challenges, scheduling changes, and project risks while coordinating resolutions internally. Manage customer requests and scope changes, ensuring modifications receive appropriate review and approval.

Support project quotations, statements of work, and engineering change requests in collaboration with leadership.

Operational Leadership & Process Improvement

Establish project management workflows that improve coordination between engineering, production, procurement, and management. Standardize project intake, requirements gathering, milestone tracking, documentation, and production handoffs. Identify opportunities to improve resource utilization, scheduling efficiency, and project execution.

Maintain accurate project records, engineering documentation, and communication histories. Exercise independent judgment when resolving operational challenges and escalating critical decisions. Take a hands-on approach to problem-solving and support cross-functional operational needs.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, business, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience. 5+ years of experience in technical project management, engineering program management, or manufacturing operations. Experience managing multiple engineering or manufacturing programs from requirements definition through delivery.

Demonstrated ability to coordinate electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and procurement teams. Strong understanding of project scheduling, resource allocation, requirements management, and production planning. Ability to interpret CAD drawings, electrical specifications, BOMs, and technical documentation.

Experience gathering customer requirements, managing deliverables, and maintaining program alignment. Proven ability to resolve cross-functional challenges and independently drive project execution. Excellent communication skills and experience working directly with technical customers.

Proficiency with project management software and documentation systems. PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, battery systems, electronics, or advanced manufacturing. Degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering.

Familiarity with lithium-ion battery packs, battery management systems (BMS), and thermal management technologies. Experience with requirements traceability matrices (RTMs), engineering change orders (ECOs), and configuration management. Working knowledge of SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent CAD platforms.

Familiarity with electrical schematics, PCB documentation, and electromechanical assemblies. Experience with manufacturing BOMs, material requirements planning (MRP), procurement, and production scheduling. Proficiency with Jira, Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project, or equivalent platforms.

Experience coordinating prototype development, design validation, testing, and production ramp-up. Familiarity with quality management systems, government contracting, and ITAR-controlled programs. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Must work full-time on-site at our Gardena, California facility.

Strong ownership, accountability, and responsibility for project outcomes. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and aggressive schedules. Versatile, resourceful, and comfortable working across technical and operational disciplines.

Self-directed, capable of anticipating needs and solving problems without continuous supervision. Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment under pressure. Willingness to take initiative beyond traditional project management responsibilities.

Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary engineering and customer information. Must meet applicable eligibility requirements for access to export-controlled technical information.

COMPENSATION

Annual Base Salary: $95,000–$120,000 Compensation depends on experience, technical background, qualifications, and demonstrated program management capabilities. POSITION EXPECTATIONS The Senior Technical Project Manager is responsible for ensuring customer programs are properly defined, organized, resourced, and executed. This role extends beyond scheduling and administrative coordination.

The individual must understand customer objectives, establish technical requirements, coordinate engineering and manufacturing resources, and maintain accountability throughout the project lifecycle. We seek an individual who takes ownership, operates independently, communicates effectively, and drives programs to successful completion.