Job Title: Program Manager Defense SystemsJob DescriptionThis Program Manager role supports a portfolio of defense systems, including hypersonics, strategic missile defense, tactical missiles, and integrated defense solutions. You will lead complex programs that integrate launch and deployment systems, propulsion, payload protection, and mission-critical hardware across air, land, and sea. In this position, you guide programs from planning and development through qualification, production, and delivery, while serving as the primary interface for customers and internal stakeholders. The role emphasizes program execution, schedule and financial performance, and operational coordination in a dynamic aerospace and defense environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead assigned defense programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
- Own overall program performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives.
- Develop and maintain integrated program plans, including schedules, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and performance metrics.
- Coordinate cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and test organizations.
- Serve as the primary program interface for customers, prime contractors, government stakeholders, suppliers, and internal leadership.
- Identify technical, programmatic, supply chain, cost, and schedule risks and drive mitigation and recovery plans to maintain program commitments.
- Lead recurring program reviews and clearly communicate financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and corrective actions.
- Support design reviews, test-readiness reviews, qualification activities, production-readiness reviews, and customer acceptance events.
- Manage contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes throughout the program lifecycle.
- Support proposals, cost and schedule estimates, contract negotiations, follow-on opportunities, and broader program growth activities.
- Focus daily work on program execution, customer interface, schedule management, financial performance, and operational coordination.
- Lead program teams as the organizational owner for execution while leveraging engineering resources for technical decision-making.
- Manage program budgets and schedules and ensure professional, consistent communication with customers and stakeholders.
- Provide clear program reporting, including status updates, metrics, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in engineering, business, program management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
- At least 5 years of experience supporting or managing aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex technical programs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage program budgets and drive financial performance.
- Proven ability to manage complex schedules and maintain on-time delivery.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams in aerospace manufacturing, defense industry, or production environments.
- Strong program management skills, including cost management, schedule management, program planning, and resource planning.
- Experience with operations coordination, manufacturing support, and production planning in a technical environment.
- Stakeholder management and program leadership experience across internal and external partners.
- Ability to interface with customers in a professional and confident manner.
- Experience with contract management and working on government or defense-related programs.
- Proficiency with Excel and project management tools for scheduling, tracking, and reporting.
- Strong communication, presentation, and customer management skills.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including leading cross-functional teams and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Masters degree in a related technical field or a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
- Experience managing Department of Defense, U.S. government, allied-defense, or prime-contractor programs.
- Experience with missile systems, propulsion, launch systems, payload integration, separation systems, energetic devices, or related flight hardware.
- Experience managing programs from early development through qualification and full-rate production.
- Knowledge of government contracting and experience with fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, or incentive-based contract structures.
- Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), cost-account management, or similar financial-performance methodologies.
- Background supporting proposals, estimates, negotiations, contract modifications, or follow-on program capture activities.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent formal program-management training.
- Experience with program scheduling tools and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
- Experience with product-lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
- Experience leading engineering teams to develop mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems.
- Familiarity with aerospace defense environments and relevant hardware programs.
- Strong program reporting capabilities, including written reports and executive-level presentations.
Work EnvironmentThis role is primarily onsite at a Washington-based engineering and manufacturing hub that supports NASA lunar exploration, commercial launch vehicles, hypersonic systems, missile defense, propulsion hardware, and other national security programs. You will work in a smaller, more agile environment than large aerospace primes, with less bureaucracy and direct interaction with leadership. The organization focuses on mission-critical defense work, including missile defense, propulsion, launch systems, payload systems, UAV components, safe and arm systems, and integrated defense solutions. Program managers collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and engage regularly with customers, prime contractors, and government stakeholders. The position follows a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off, and operates from a waterfront office setting. The culture emphasizes growth, with opportunities to influence major programs quickly, contribute to a growing defense organization, and guide complex aerospace and defense hardware from development through manufacturing, test, qualification, and production. Benefits include tuition reimbursement and an immediately vesting 401(k), supporting long-term professional and financial development. Job Type & LocationThis is a Permanent position based out of Mukilteo, WA. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $170000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.-Medical ((PPO, HMO, HDHP) , dental (HMO and PPO options), and vision coverage -Health Savings Account (HSA) -401(k) with immediate vesting of employer match (100% vested immediately) -Profit sharing program -Life and AD&D insurance -Short- and long-term disability coverage -Employee Assistance Program (24/7 confidential counseling and support resources) -Tuition reimbursement and educational assistance Job Type & LocationThis is a Permanent position based out of Mukilteo, WA. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 17, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Mukilteo,WA.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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