Senior Director of Program Management, Defense Solutions

Echo Star is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products.

Today, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.

Hughes, an Echo Star company, seeks a Senior Director of Program Management within its Defense and Government Solutions Division (DGSD) to lead a major satellite ground system program for the U.S. Department of War (DoW). This role draws on Hughes’ 50-year legacy in satellite communications to connect commercial innovation with mission-critical defense capabilities of national security significance.

The individual in this role will be a seasoned Program Manager responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of a large-scale, global ground systems program for defense. This role is critical to ensuring disciplined delivery of mission-critical capabilities, bridging program execution excellence with technical rigor to meet stringent national defense requirements and to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

This position is primarily located at our Gaithersburg, MD office, though frequent travel to both CONUS and OCONUS customer locations may be required.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and execution of all program plans (PMP, IMP, IMS) to ensure alignment with contractual milestones, deliverables, compliance standards, and customer requirements.
• Lead cross-functional, multi-contractor teams across engineering, integration, test, operations, and sustainment. This includes all aspects of a satellite ground system – civils, physical construction, outdoor and indoor equipment, and complex satellite communication and network components.
• Partner with Engineering leadership to manage system architecture, integration, and technical baselines, and ensure the implementation of rigorous system engineering practices.
• Manage program cost, schedule, and performance using Earned Value Management (EVM), driving successful completion of major program reviews and on-time delivery of all CDRL items.
• Implement structured risk and opportunity management processes, leading issue resolution and escalation processes across stakeholders.
• Implement quality management processes across all phases of the lifecycle, and ensure adherence to DoD standards, cybersecurity, and mission assurance requirements.
• Serve as the primary interface with Government program leadership.
• Report regular program status to internal executive level stakeholders.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, or a related field.
• 18+ years of relevant work experience (15+ years with Master’s degree).
• Prior experience with U.S. DoW, space, and/or satellite communications programs.
• Must hold a U.S. government security clearance at TS/SCI.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven leadership of large, complex programs involving ground systems and/or space architecture procurements in excess of $150M.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) PMP certification or equivalent.
• Expertise with Earned Value Management (EVM) and reporting.
• Strong background in systems engineering processes and lifecycle management.

Compensation: $/Year - $/Year

We offer versatile health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, career opportunities, and a flexible time away plan; all benefits can be viewed here:
Echo Star Benefits.

The base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, and competencies; compensation…