Set Boundaries delivers aerospace, defense and maritime programs for companies that have just won major work or have a program in trouble. We are looking for project engineers and program managers who want to do that work well: on real hardware programs, with a clear plan, and without everything being treated as an emergency.
What the work is
Our preferred engagement is a program management office. Holly Dekle serves as the program manager and owns time, money, strategy and major stakeholder communication. Set Boundaries project engineers work inside the client's interdisciplinary team, executing against that plan and providing the technical and tactical support that keeps the program moving: chasing the critical path, working suppliers and qualification, preparing customer reviews, and closing the actions that decide whether a milestone is met.
The programs are complex, highly engineered products: engine and fuel controls, gearboxes, aerostructures, ship systems, defense electronics and overhaul programs. Some are new awards that need structure from day one. Others are recoveries where the customer has lost patience. All of them matter to the people who hired us.
What it is like to work here
- You know what is expected. Every program starts with a signed charter and one integrated schedule, so you know the destination, the priorities and what has to happen this week.
- You own how you do it. We are clear about what must be done, when and why. How you get there is your call; we hire people for their expertise.
- Plans are realistic. They are built with input from the people doing the work, including you.
- Not everything is an emergency. When something goes wrong, it is a plot twist: we work out what changed, the impact and the options, and move forward.
- You are protected from uncontrolled work. Customer requests go through a controlled path, so the team is not quietly absorbing work nobody agreed to.
- Direct, respectful communication. Issues are raised early and directly with the person involved. Disagreement and pressure are normal; disrespect is not tolerated from anyone.
- You can take a vacation. People who have worked on Holly's programs say they could take time off without guilt, because the plan did not depend on them being on call.
Who we are looking for
We hire engineers and program professionals with real experience on aerospace, defense or maritime programs. The strongest candidates usually have:
- Hands-on experience moving hardware through design, qualification or certification, production transition or closeout.
- Comfort with integrated schedules, critical path thinking and Microsoft Project.
- Working knowledge of the standards that govern the work, such as AS9100, AS9102 first article inspection and configuration management.
- The judgment to tell a contractual requirement from a customer request, and the confidence to raise it.
- A direct, calm way of communicating with engineers, suppliers, customers and leadership.
Roles we typically hire for include project engineers, senior project engineers, program managers and schedulers or project controls specialists. If your background does not fit a title neatly but you have delivered programs like ours, apply anyway and tell us about it.
Roles we hire for
We hire for these roles as client programs require. Apply for any of them and we will consider you for current and upcoming programs.
- Project EngineerProject engineers who keep aerospace, defense and maritime programs moving: critical path, suppliers, qualification and customer actions.
- Senior Project EngineerSenior project engineers who own a program workstream end to end, from integrated schedule to qualification and production readiness.
- Principal Project EngineerSet Boundaries is hiring a Principal Project Engineer to own technical execution on aerospace and defense programs and hold the team to the schedule.
- Program ManagerProgram managers who own schedule, cost, strategy and customer communication on aerospace, defense and maritime programs.
- Associate Program ManagerAssociate program managers learning to run complex engineered programs alongside a senior program manager. Apply online with your resume.
- Program SchedulerSchedulers who build and maintain integrated Microsoft Project schedules that pass DCMA checks and that teams actually use.
- Project Controls and EVM AnalystProject controls analysts who run earned value, estimates at completion and cost visibility on aerospace and defense programs.
- Systems and Requirements EngineerSystems engineers who manage requirements, compliance matrices and traceability so programs know what done means. Apply online with your resume.
- Configuration and Data ManagerConfiguration and data managers who keep baselines, change control and technical data packages clean from design to closeout.
- Quality EngineerQuality engineers who carry aerospace programs through AS9100, AS9102 first article inspection and customer acceptance. Apply online with your resume.
- Supplier Quality and Supply Chain EngineerSupplier engineers who recover late suppliers, run APQP and PPAP, and protect program schedules from supply chain risk. Apply online with your resume.
- Manufacturing and Transition EngineerManufacturing engineers who move lines, characterize processes, baseline golden units and qualify production at a new site.
- Test, Qualification and Certification EngineerEngineers who plan and run qualification and certification campaigns for aerospace and defense hardware. Apply online with your resume.
- Additive Manufacturing EngineerEngineers who qualify additive-manufactured aerospace parts and turn casting lead times into design changes measured in weeks.
- Contracts and Scope Change ManagerContracts professionals who keep scope under control, price changes and substantiate requests for equitable adjustment. Apply online with your resume.
- Technical Writer, Program DeliverablesTechnical writers who produce qualification reports, contract deliverables and technical data packages customers accept the first time.
- Program CoordinatorProgram coordinators who keep actions, meetings, reporting and documentation moving for a busy program office. Apply online with your resume.
- Maritime Program ManagerProgram managers for naval and maritime programs: ship systems, overhaul programs and Coast Guard and Navy work, run to one plan.
- PMO LeadPMO leads who stand up and run a program management office for a client, and leave behind a repeatable process the client owns.
- Cost Analyst and EstimatorCost analysts who build estimates at completion, price scope changes and give program leaders cost numbers they can trust.
- Risk and Opportunity ManagerRisk managers who run monthly risk and opportunity reviews and build mitigation into the program schedule as real work. Apply online with your resume.
- Capture and Proposal ManagerCapture and proposal managers who help Set Boundaries win aerospace, defense and maritime program management work. Apply online with your resume.
- Government Compliance AnalystCompliance analysts who keep program management work aligned with DCAA expectations, FAR and DFARS clauses and contract terms.
Export control and security
Many aerospace and defense programs involve technical data controlled under U.S. export regulations, and some require security clearances. We ask whether you are a U.S. person so we can match you to programs you are eligible to support. The answer is used only for that purpose, and we confirm the specific requirements of each program before any assignment.
How to apply
Send the form below with your resume. Holly reviews every application personally. If there is a fit with a current or upcoming program, we will contact you to talk it through. If not, we keep your application on file for future programs, unless you ask us to remove it.
Equal opportunity
Set Boundaries, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need an accommodation to apply, email holly.dekle@setboundaries.com.
Questions
Common questions
What roles does Set Boundaries hire for?
Set Boundaries typically hires project engineers, senior project engineers, program managers and schedulers or project controls specialists for aerospace, defense and maritime programs. Project engineers work inside a client's interdisciplinary team under a Set Boundaries program manager, executing the program plan. If your experience fits the programs we run but not one of these titles, apply anyway and describe the programs you have helped deliver.
What experience do I need to apply?
Most successful candidates have hands-on experience on aerospace, defense or maritime hardware programs: design, qualification or certification, production transition or closeout. Comfort with integrated schedules and Microsoft Project, working knowledge of standards such as AS9100 and AS9102, and the judgment to separate contractual requirements from customer requests all matter. The application asks for your years of experience so we can match you to the right programs.
Why do you ask whether I am a U.S. person?
Many aerospace and defense programs involve technical data controlled under U.S. export regulations, and only eligible people can work with that data. We ask so we can match you to programs you are eligible to support. The answer is used only for that purpose. Answering No or Not sure does not rule you out, because some programs have no export-controlled content, and we confirm each program's requirements before any assignment.
What happens after I apply?
You receive a confirmation email right away. Holly Dekle reviews every application personally. If there is a fit with a current or upcoming program, we contact you to talk it through, usually starting with a short call about the programs you have delivered. If there is no immediate fit, we keep your application on file for future programs unless you ask us to remove it.
What file formats can I use for my resume?
You can attach your resume as a PDF or a Word document, either.doc or.docx, up to 5 MB. PDF is best because it keeps your formatting. If your file is larger than 5 MB, save it again without embedded images or at a lower resolution. If you have any trouble with the form, email your resume to holly.dekle@setboundaries.com with the role in the subject line.