Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Program Manager to lead a complex, multi-year defence program involving joint development with a prime contractor, system integration, testing, and field deployment. The Program Manager will oversee all phases of program execution, ensuring technical performance, schedule adherence, financial control, and stakeholder alignment across a large and diverse team.
You will be responsible for the following:
Program Leadership & Execution
• Lead the end-to-end delivery of a large-scale defence program from concept through field deployment.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the organization, the prime contractor, subcontractors, and government stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain the integrated program plan, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, and performance baselines.
• Drive program governance, execution discipline, and alignment with contractual and regulatory requirements.
Cross-Company Development & Collaboration
• Manage joint development activities with the prime contractor, ensuring clarity in roles, responsibilities, and interface definitions.
• Establish and maintain effective collaboration frameworks, communication channels, and decision-making processes across organizations.
Integration & Verification Management
• Oversee system integration activities, ensuring subsystem interoperability, configuration control, and interface compliance.
• Plan and manage verification and validation activities, including factory acceptance, site integration, and system-level test campaigns.
Field Deployment & Operational Readiness
• Lead planning and execution for field deployment, including logistics, site preparation, installation, training, and commissioning.
• Ensure all deployed systems meet operational, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Coordinate with end users and military stakeholders to support readiness assessments and acceptance milestones.
Risk, Issue & Change Management
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks and issues, maintaining proactive risk management processes.
• Lead change control activities, ensuring impact assessments and configuration integrity.
Financial & Contract Management
• Manage program budgets, forecasts, earned value, and financial performance metrics.
• Ensure compliance with contract obligations, deliverables, reporting requirements, and audits.
Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting
• Provide clear, concise reporting to senior leadership, customers, and external partners.
• Represent the program in technical reviews, contractual meetings, executive briefings, and customer engagements.
Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of program or project management experience in defence, aerospace, or complex systems environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-partner development programs.
• Strong understanding of system integration, testing, and deployment lifecycles.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, complex schedules, and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Eligibility for or possession of the required security clearance.
Preferred:
• Experience working with prime contractors and government defence agencies.
• Experience with loitering munitions, UAV systems, or other autonomous air or strike platforms
