Senior Manager, Defense Programs

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Spearhead customer engagement and implementation across an expanding range of government and industry initiatives.

• Take ownership of commitments from award through demonstration, delivery, and operational rollout.

• Act as the primary day-to-day liaison for designated customers and partners.

• Collaborate with engineering, operations, supply chain, and leadership to fulfill cost, schedule, scope, and contractual obligations.

• Manage customer relationships and the execution of programs, including reviews, planning sessions, and execution updates.

• Oversee program timelines, milestones, budgets, deliverables, resource plans, and risks across multiple simultaneous endeavors.

• Identify program risks, implement corrective actions, address customer concerns, and make decisions that need executive oversight.

• Organize and conduct government demonstrations, test events, operational evaluations, and customer deployments.

• Manage customer expectations, contract stipulations, scope adjustments, cost-to-complete estimates, and resource projections.

• Provide transparent, timely program reporting and accountability for commitments.

• Assist in proposals, follow-on opportunities, and transitions from demonstrations to production and deployment.

• Report directly to the Chief Strategy Officer.

• Contribute to establishing the foundational program execution framework for a burgeoning defense technology firm.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years in defense program management, government acquisition, military program execution, or defense industry operations.

• Experience in a customer-facing program management role, government acquisition, or a similar leadership position.

• Proven success in managing complex programs with diverse stakeholders, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.

• Strong comprehension of Department of Defense organizations, acquisition processes, and government-industry collaborations.

• Capability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities while maintaining customer confidence.

• Technical proficiency to work collaboratively with engineering teams.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant military, governmental, or industry experience.

• Experience with counter-UAS, directed energy, air defense, or similar defense technologies.

• Familiarity with Other Transaction agreements, FAR-based contracts, or DoD rapid acquisition pathways.

• Experience in defense technology development, prototyping, demonstrations, or rapid deployment.

• Background in an early-stage or growth-stage defense technology company.

• Active U.S. security clearance; eligibility to obtain and maintain a clearance.

• U.S. Person status required for access to export-controlled information.

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret security clearance.

• Willingness to travel to government sites and test events.

• Availability to work Saturdays, Sundays, and during field deployments as required.

• Willingness to undergo a background check.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equity.

• Bonus.

• United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days.

• Travel to field test events and range days.

• Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks.

• E-bike / scooter stipend (Up to $500).

• Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work.