Program Manager, Defense Programs

We are looking for a Program Manager to lead assigned Department of Defense programs and related defense contracts. This role will own day-to-day program performance, including cost, schedule, customer commitments, technical coordination, and overall contract execution. The Sr. Program Manager will be the primary customer interface and the internal lead for keeping programs on track. This requires close coordination with engineering, software, supply chain, contracts, finance, quality, security, and logistics support teams.

This is a hands-on program leadership role. The right candidate will be comfortable bringing structure to complex work, driving decisions across functional teams, and addressing issues before they turn into customer or financial problems.

• Own assigned program performance including cost, schedule, contract commitments, customer satisfaction, and delivery results.
• Lead the regular operating rhythm for programs including team meetings, program reviews, risk reviews, action tracking, and leadership updates.
• Serve as the primary customer point of contact for assigned programs.
• Manage customer expectations and make sure contractual commitments are understood, tracked, and met.
• Turn contract requirements, Statement of Work (SOW) language, Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs), Contract Data Requirement Lists (CDRLs), deliverables, milestones, and customer commitments into practical program plans.
• Develop and maintain program schedules, budgets, staffing plans, risk registers, issue logs, action trackers, and recovery plans.
• Track program financial performance including funding status, burn rate, actuals, forecasts, Estimate to Complete (ETC) / Estimate at Completion (EAC) inputs, revenue, margin, and cash flow impacts.
• Identify risks, issues, and performance gaps early and drive corrective action when programs move off plan.
• Coordinate work across engineering, software, supply chain, contracts, finance, quality, security, and logistics support functions.
• Work with Supply Chain, Subcontracts, Engineering, and Quality to manage subcontractor and supplier performance.
• Support contract negotiations, modifications, Request for Equitable Adjustments (REAs), Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), and scope changes in coordination with Contracts, Finance, Engineering, and executive leadership.
• Ensure program work stays aligned with contract requirements, company procedures, quality standards, security requirements, and applicable DoD regulations.
• Prepare and present program status, financial performance, risks, staffing needs, corrective actions, and decision points to senior leadership and customer stakeholders.
• Support proposal and capture activities, including technical volume inputs, Basis of Estimates (BOEs), schedule development, risk inputs, basis of estimate reviews, and transition planning.
• Help identify follow-on opportunities, customer needs, contract growth areas, and lessons learned.
• Build a team environment that is organized, accountable, and focused on delivery.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, management, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 5-8+ years of relevant experience in program management, project management, engineering program leadership, defense operations, or a related field with 5+ years supporting or managing U.S. Government or DoD contracts.
• Experience managing program cost, schedule, customer communications, technical coordination, risks, issues, and corrective actions.
• Experience executing Department of Defense (DoD) contracts in a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) / Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) environment, including one or more contract types or vehicles such as Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Time & Materials (T&M), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Other Transaction Authority (OTA), prototype, production, sustainment, or services contracts.
• Experience managing contract execution elements such as SOW/Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements, CLINs, CDRLs, deliverables, milestones, funding, and change control.
• Ability to monitor and explain program…