Darpa Program Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Job Posting Title:
Senior or Principal Technical Program Manager
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Hiring Department:
Texas Institute for Electronics
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Position Open To:
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
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FLSA Status:
To Be Determined at Offer
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Earliest Start Date:
Ongoing
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Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
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Location:
AUSTIN, TX
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Job Details:
General Notes
About TIE
Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE) is a transformative, well-funded semiconductor foundry venture combining the agility of a startup with the scale of a national initiative.
Our Mission
A key part of our mission is to advance the state of the art in 3D heterogeneous integration (3DHI), chiplet-based architectures, and multi-component microsystems- catalyzing breakthroughs across microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, high-performance computing, and next-generation healthcare devices.
Our Impact
Backed by $1.4 billion in combined funding from DARPA, Texas state initiatives, and strategic partners, we are building foundational capabilities in advanced packaging and integrated design infrastructure to restore U.S. leadership in microelectronics manufacturing.
Our Technology
TIE's 3DHI and chiplet integration platforms integrate novel thermal management and advanced interconnect solutions to deliver unprecedented performance and energy efficiency. Operating at the intersection of defense electronics and commercial markets, TIE offers a rare opportunity to reimagine an industry from the ground up and build transformative products with global impact.
UT Austin, recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers, provides outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages that include:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
• For more details, please see Benefits | Human Resources and UT Austin Employee Experience | Human Resources and UT Austin Employee Experience | Human Resources

Purpose
This role leads complex multi-disciplinary initiatives that drive innovation in microsystems technology. By orchestrating collaboration across internal teams and external partners, it ensures strategic alignment, timely execution, and clear communication of progress. The position also plays a key role in shaping program direction through industry insight and proactive problem-solving.
Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of cross-disciplinary programs supporting TIE's advanced microsystems roadmap.
• Develop and manage program scopes, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation plans to ensure predictable delivery across engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Coordinate efforts across internal R&D, process development, design automation, and partner organizations to align execution with technology and business objectives.
• Serve as the central liaison between TIE's technical teams, university researchers, and external stakeholders-including DoD partners, national labs, and commercial collaborators.
• Drive metrics-based accountability and communication across all program tracks to ensure transparency and stakeholder confidence.
• Identify dependencies, anticipate bottlenecks, and proactively resolve issues to maintain momentum in a fast-moving environment.
• Support the generation of technical documentation, customer deliverables, and integration roadmaps that communicate progress and align with contract requirements.
• Monitor industry trends in advanced packaging, 3DHI, and chiplet-based architectures, informing program direction and partnership strategy.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications
For Senior Technical Program Manager:

• Industry Experience: 8+ years of experience in semiconductor packaging, microsystems integration, or related microelectronics product development, with a deep understanding of the advanced packaging ecosystem and market trends.

For Principal Technical Program Manager:

• Industry Experience: 10+ years of experience in semiconductor packaging, microsystems integration, or related microelectronics product development, with a deep understanding of the advanced packaging ecosystem and market trends.

For both levels:

• Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Technical Expertise: Proven expertise in advanced packaging technologies (e.g. 2.5D interposers, through-silicon vias, wafer-level packaging, 3D stacking, RDL/interposer technologies) and heterogeneous integration techniques. You have direct experience developing or managing cutting-edge packaging solutions and understand the nuances of modeling, simulation, and reliability across electrical, thermal, and mechanical domains.
• Process & EDA Familiarity: Working knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes and electronic design automation (EDA) flows for PDK/ADK creation and integration with major EDA vendor flows. You can effectively interface with process engineers and EDA teams, ensuring packaging solutions integrate smoothly with design and manufacturing workflows.
• Exceptional communication skills. You know how to simplify the complex, create clear deliverables, and build trust with both technical and business stakeholders. You excel at translating between engineering and market/customer contexts.
• Startup DNA. You're energized by ambiguity, act with urgency, and take ownership of outcomes. You thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and aren't afraid to wear many hats to get the job done.
• Execution mindset. You have demonstrated experience driving progress across multiple initiatives in a hands-on role, without the need for layers of management. You plan, execute, and deliver-reliably and proactively.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree: MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Program Leadership: Proven program management chops - you can demonstrate end-to-end ownership of complex programs involving multiple customer or partner stakeholders. You know how to define success metrics, manage interdependencies, and keep teams aligned and motivated even as projects grow in complexity.
• Vendor/Partner Management: Experience working directly with subcontractors, vendors, or external partners to define clear expectations, manage deliverables, and hold teams accountable to milestones.
• Industry Background: Prior experience at a leading semiconductor foundry or packaging house is a strong plus, giving you firsthand insight into advanced packaging processes and the broader industry ecosystem.

Salary Range
TIE Pays Industry-Competitive Salaries
Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity (ex: using a mouse)

Work Shift

• Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm.
• Occasional/frequent nights/weekends required.
• Austin, Texas is preferred for close collaboration with our engineering teams and partners. Hybrid work arrangements may be possible, with travel up to 30-50% as needed. (Any flexible work arrangement such as hybrid work would be subject to university policies and approval regarding relation to jurisdictional employment-related laws, rules, and regulations.)

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
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E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.