What Impact You’ll Have:
The Program Director owns end-to-end delivery of complex space electromagnetic warfare (EW) programs, from contract award through development, integration, test, deployment, and sustainment. This leader is accountable for cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer satisfaction across a multi-disciplinary portfolio. The portfolio consists of large, multi-year programs of record executed under formal acquisition governance. The program team numbers approximately 80-120 full-time staff. The position reports to the Business Unit General Manager and is primarily located in Dulles, VA. It will require roughly 25-35% travel to customer sites, supplier facilities, test ranges, and operational sites.
The role is the primary interface to government acquisition customers and the operational user community. It also aligns the supply chain and internal functions (engineering, contracts, finance, quality, security, and mission assurance) behind a single integrated plan, and builds and leads a high-performing program team.
What You’ll Own:
Program execution
- Own program cost, schedule, and technical baselines; deliver against contract requirements and protect program margin.
- Lead integrated program planning and control using the Integrated Master Plan and Integrated Master Schedule (IMP/IMS), Estimates at Completion (EACs), variance analysis, and corrective action.
- Drive the full lifecycle for terrestrial space EW systems and command & control (C2) systems: requirements, integration and test, environmental qualification, global deployment, delivery support, and operations.
- Deliver and sustain a large number of terrestrial space EW edge units to multiple Areas of Responsibility (AORs) simultaneously.
- Run disciplined risk, issue, and opportunity management; anticipate technical, schedule, and threat-driven changes.
- Manage changes in scope, engineering change proposals (ECPs), baseline change requests, and contract modifications with Contracts and Finance.
Supply chain
- Own the program supply chain strategy, including make/buy decisions, subcontract management, and critical-path procurement.
- Manage long-lead parts, obsolescence, and single-source risk.
- Hold suppliers accountable for cost, schedule, quality, and flow-down of security and mission assurance requirements.
- Mitigate counterfeit part, export control (ITAR), and supply chain security risks.
Acquisition customers
- Serve as the primary point of contact for government program offices.
- Lead program management reviews (PMRs), baseline reviews, milestone and technical reviews, and executive-level briefings.
- Build trust through transparent reporting, early escalation, and consistent delivery.
- Identify follow-on, scope-growth, and recompete opportunities; support capture and proposal efforts.
User community
- Lead teams engaging operational users (e.g., operator units, combatant commands, and support organizations) to understand mission needs and concepts of operation.
- Translate operational feedback into requirements, upgrades, and sustainment priorities.
- Support operational test, user training, fielding, and transition to operations.
- Integrate program efforts for community engagement and reporting with the Business Unit Mission Support Officer (MSO) to ensure a cohesive, consistent, and accurate status is understood by all external stakeholders.
Internal stakeholders
- Align engineering, manufacturing, contracts, finance, quality, mission assurance, security, and business development behind program priorities.
- Report program health and financial performance to executive leadership; secure resources and resolve cross-functional conflicts.
- Ensure compliance with company processes, security requirements (including classified data handling), and regulatory obligations.
Team leadership
- Build, lead, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of program managers, technical leads, engineers, schedulers, and analysts.
- Set clear goals, delegate ownership, and coach for performance; manage hiring, reviews, and succession.
- Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, safety, and mission focus.
What You Must Have:
- U.S. citizenship required, with the ability to obtain and maintain an active TS/SCI clearance
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a related technical field.
- 12+ years in aerospace and defense, including 7+ years in program management leadership roles and 3+ years as program manager or deputy program manager for a large program of record.
- Demonstrated delivery of large, complex space or electromagnetic warfare programs, ideally space EW, SIGINT, or RF payloads, from development through launch or fielding.
- Experience leading large programs of record (ACAT I/II or equivalent) under DoD 5000-series or Intelligence Community (IC) acquisition governance (ICD 801), including milestone reviews and Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs).
- Full profit-and-loss accountability for programs of significant value (e.g., $50M+), with a track record of meeting cost and schedule commitments.
- Hands-on experience with earned value management (EIA-748), including EACs and variance analysis; IMS development; and FAR/DFARS contract types (cost-plus, fixed-price, and incentive).
- Experience managing subcontractors and hardware supply chains.
- Direct experience leading reviews and relationships with DoD or IC acquisition customers and operational users.
- Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams, including direct and matrixed staff.
What Would Be Nice to Have:
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Master's degree in engineering, systems engineering, or business (MBA).
- PMP certification and/or DAWIA Program Management (Advanced) or equivalent.
- Background in EW techniques, RF systems, spectrum operations, or counterspace mission areas.
- Experience on Special Access Programs (SAP); current polygraph or willingness to undergo one.
- Experience leading a program through Milestone C, production, and transition to sustainment.
- Experience on programs under a validated Earned Value Management System (EVMS), including IBRs, IPMDAR/CPR reporting, and DCMA surveillance.
- Prior military service or government program office experience in a space or EW role.
- Experience growing a program portfolio through capture and recompete wins.
- Experience with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases and ITAR compliance.
Core competencies
- Strategic and operational leadership: sets direction and keeps execution on track.
- Stakeholder management: balances the needs of customers, users, suppliers, and executives.
- Technical fluency: credible with engineers on RF/signal processing, mission-critical software development, and hardware integration trades.
- Financial acumen: manages budgets, EACs, margins, and funding profiles.
- Program discipline: runs the program to its baselines, governance, and reporting cadence, and holds the team to them.
- Risk-based decision making: makes timely decisions with incomplete information, documents the rationale, and escalates early.
- Communication: delivers clear, concise briefings, from team stand-ups to senior government leaders.
- Talent development: builds strong teams and grows future program leaders.
Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors - such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications. We’re proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.
- The pay range for this position is: $280,000 - $325,000
Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors - such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications. We’re proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.
Virginia Pay Range
$280,000 - $325,000 USD
Why Choose GRVTY
The toughest national security challenges demand vision and ingenuity, not just resources. We deliver mission and technical expertise to outpace our adversaries. We’re purpose-built to tackle the most entrenched, systemic national security issues around the world.
We partner with our customers to help them overcome challenges in every corner of technology and defense - including the ones still being explored. Our growing capabilities create complementary advantages, giving on-the-ground operations the edge they need to succeed. We muster everything we have to answer every challenge presented, every day of our lives.
At GRVTY, we believe that when our employees thrive, our company thrives. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance.
- Robust health plan including medical, dental, and vision
- Health Savings Account with company contribution
- Annual Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401k with generous company match
- Training and Development Opportunities
- Award Programs
- Variety of Company Sponsored Events
EEO Statement
GRVTY, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Anyone requiring reasonable accommodations should email recruiting@grvty.com or call 703-544-7930 with requested details. A member of the HR team will respond to your request within 2 business days.
Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov)
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