Program Manager, Defense Operations

Required Skills & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or closely related technical field. The formal JD allows engineering, business, or a related field, but based on the intake, an engineering degree/background is the target.

5+ years of relevant program/project management, government contract execution, proposal development, or related experience.

Significant program management experience, with the ability to independently own complex projects from contract execution through delivery.

Experience working directly with engineering teams and the technical aptitude to understand technical requirements, specifications, scopes of work, and engineering deliverables.

Experience supporting government, defense, federal, or military contracts/programs.

Understanding of government contracts, including contract terms and conditions, reporting requirements, deliverables, and compliance obligations.

Experience building and managing project plans, schedules, milestones, budgets/costs, risks, dependencies, and deliverables.

Experience writing and coordinating proposals and responses to government opportunities.

Strong customer relationship management skills, including experience interacting with government customers or contracting stakeholders.

Ability to coordinate across multiple internal functions and serve as the central program owner/orchestrator.

Ability to operate independently and creatively in a very fast-paced environment without a defined manual or playbook.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to take ownership quickly and drive programs forward rather than simply coordinating or tracking tasks.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

Previous experience with a prime government contractor, military contractor, or defense-focused engineering/manufacturing company, particularly organizations similar to L3Harris, General Tool, GE, or Federal Equipment Company.

Direct experience supporting programs for organizations such as the Navy, Army, Air Force, NASA, or other defense/government agencies.

Experience with DCAA audits or serving as the internal coordinator for federal audit activities.

Knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements and government accounting/contract processes.

Experience with PIEE, WAWF, SPRS, or SAM.gov.

Experience developing SBIR proposals, BAAs, white papers, or similar government submissions.

Experience in an engineering, technology, manufacturing, hardware, or other technically complex environment.

Experience working with hardware programs that move through prototype and production stages.

PMP certification.

Previous experience managing multiple government programs simultaneously.

Experience working in an organization where processes are still evolving and the Program Manager needs to build structure while executing.

Job Description

The Program Manager, Defense Contracts will own government and defense programs from the completion of the contracting process through project execution and customer delivery. This person will serve as the central point of coordination between engineering, operations, finance, supply chain, internal stakeholders, and government customers to ensure program scope, schedules, costs, risks, contractual requirements, and deliverables stay on track. The position is a critical part of the Government Affairs team and will currently support approximately four projects across various stages.

This role is looking for someone with an engineering background and significant program management experience who can understand technical programs while taking full ownership of their execution. The Program Manager will work directly with the engineering team to develop scopes of work, translate technical and contractual requirements into actionable project plans, manage schedules and deliverables, and keep internal teams aligned.

The Program Manager will also own key aspects of government contract execution, including contract negotiations, proposal writing, reporting requirements, terms and conditions, compliance obligations, and customer communication. This individual will serve as a primary point of contact for government customers and help coordinate federal audits and required documentation.

Programs may support organizations including the Navy, Army, Air Force, NASA, and other defense/government organizations. The environment is extremely fast-paced and requires someone who can think creatively, operate without a defined playbook, work closely across departments, and step in quickly to take ownership.