About the Company
Xavveo is a Berlin-based deep-tech company building the next generation of perception systems. Our core technology is a photonically distributed coherent radar architecture, enabled by proprietary Silicon Photonics ICs, that delivers coherent multi-channel sensing at a precision and scalability conventional RF architectures cannot match. Our entry market is Counter-UAS and defense, where reliable detection and tracking of small aerial threats has become a critical capability for European security. From this foundation, we are building a perception platform with applications far beyond a single market. Following our working demonstrator and with a funded prototype-to-product roadmap, we are scaling the engineering organization – and we need a Technical Program Manager to keep our increasingly parallel development programs coherent, on schedule, and on budget.
About the Role
As Technical Program Manager, you are the operational backbone of our hardware development programs. You own the planning, coordination, and execution tracking of multi-disciplinary development efforts that span photonic integrated circuits, RF/mmW front-ends, digital signal processing, embedded software, and mechanical integration – from prototype iterations through to manufacturable products. This is not an administrative PM role. You will work deeply with engineers and external partners, understand the technical substance of what you are coordinating, and be expected to identify risks, dependencies, and integration issues before they become schedule problems. You will report directly to the VP Engineering and work closely with the leadership team, program management, suppliers, and customers.
Responsibilities
* Program execution: Plan, track, and drive Xavveo's hardware development programs across the prototype-to-product roadmap, including parallel product lines at different frequency bands and maturity levels
* Cross-domain coordination: Coordinate deliverables and interfaces across photonics, RF/mmW, signal processing, software, and mechanical engineering; surface dependencies and integration risks early
* Supplier & manufacturing programs: Manage timelines and technical interfaces with foundries, EMS partners, and component suppliers, including tape-out schedules, long-lead-time procurement, and volume manufacturing ramp-up
* Customer programs: Support the execution of customer-facing programs (pilots, demonstrators, qualification campaigns) in the defense and security domain, including milestone and documentation discipline appropriate to government customers
* Funded projects: Track program participation in publicly funded projects (e.g., EU/national funding programs), including milestone reporting and deliverable management
* Planning & reporting: Maintain a credible, living program plan: risk register, budget tracking against BOM and NRE targets, and transparent status reporting to the management team
* Process: Establish and continuously improve lightweight development processes (milestones, design reviews, change management) that fit a fast-moving startup while preparing the organization for the rigor defense customers expect
Qualifications
* Must-have: Degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a comparable technical discipline
* 5+ years of experience in technical program or project management of complex hardware products, ideally spanning multiple engineering disciplines
* Demonstrated ability to run programs involving custom silicon, RF/microwave hardware, or photonics – you can follow a technical design review and ask the right questions
* Experience working with external manufacturing and supply-chain partners (foundries, EMS, component suppliers), including long-lead-time and tape-out planning
* Strong command of program management methods and tools (milestone planning, risk management, Jira or comparable), applied pragmatically rather than dogmatically
* Excellent communication skills in English; able to translate between engineering detail and management-level status
* Willingness and eligibility to undergo a German security clearance procedure (Sicherheitsüberprüfung), given our defense customer base
Required Skills
* Experience in the defense, aerospace, or security industry, including familiarity with government procurement and qualification processes
* Background in radar, sensing, or optical/photonic systems
* Experience in a venture-funded startup or scale-up environment, including publicly funded R&D projects (e.g., EU, BMBF/BMWK, IPCEI-type programs)
* German language skills (helpful for German defense customers and authorities)
* Certifications such as PMP, IPMA, or comparable – valued, but practical track record matters more
Preferred Skills
* Experience in the defense, aerospace, or security industry, including familiarity with government procurement and qualification processes
* Background in radar, sensing, or optical/photonic systems
* Experience in a venture-funded startup or scale-up environment, including publicly funded R&D projects (e.g., EU, BMBF/BMWK, IPCEI-type programs)
* German language skills (helpful for German defense customers and authorities)
* Certifications such as PMP, IPMA, or comparable – valued, but practical track record matters more
Pay range and compensation package
Competitive compensation including virtual share participation (VSOP)
Equal Opportunity Statement
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Application
Please send your CV and a short note on the most complex hardware program you have driven to completion – what made it hard, and what you did about it. We value substance over formality; no cover letter required.
Xavveo GmbH · Berlin ·