Subcontract Program Manager

General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada is seeking a Subcontracts Program Manager to lead development, procurement, and management of complex aircraft system subcontracts with suppliers. The role involves coordinating with program, engineering, supply chain, commercial, and quality teams to meet technical, schedule, and cost targets.

You will identify qualified suppliers, develop SOWs, evaluate bids, negotiate with subcontractors, manage risk and performance, and ensure compliance with Prime

Qualifications

• Experience managing subcontracts, contracts, suppliers, or related program activities.
• Experience managing major contracts or complex subcontract work packages, including cost, schedule, scope, performance, risk, and change control.
• Working knowledge of project planning, financial management, earned value concepts, and supplier performance reporting.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders; influence outcomes; negotiate solutions; and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Ability to work with engineering teams to analyze, evaluate, and constructively challenge complex technical designs, integration approaches, and proposed solutions.
• Knowledge of project management and systems integration practices applicable to complex aircraft subsystems, including requirements management, interface control, configuration management, verification, qualification, and acceptance.
• Experience working or familiarity with AI/ML models
• Must be able to travel up to 20% of the time depending on the program phase

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers and subcontractors.
• Support RFP development including requirements, criteria, milestones, and project management expectations.
• Develop subcontract Statements of Work (SOWs), data requirements, and supplier deliverables.
• Evaluate bid responses for cost, schedule, scope, technical feasibility, integration maturity, quality, airworthiness evidence, and overall risk posture.
• Support negotiations and supplier selection recommendations, balancing technical, commercial, schedule, and program risk considerations.
• Manage subcontract cost, schedule, scope, performance, quality, and risk while leading cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical and commercial issues.
• Coordinate risk and opportunity management with Program Managers and technical leads, with attention to aircraft interfaces, dependencies, obsolescence, and certification or airworthiness impacts.
• Monitor subcontractor design, development, qualification, verification, production, and delivery progress, and present clear status during internal and customer reviews.
• Ensure subcontract changes and amendments remain aligned with Prime Contract requirements, approved configuration baselines, interface control documentation, and program change-control processes.
• Prepare estimates for subcontract management effort and assess the cost, schedule, technical, and integration impacts of proposed changes.
• Serve as the primary interface with subcontractor Program and Project Managers, driving timely decisions, issue resolution, delivery momentum, and collaborative working relationships.
• Develop and oversee corrective action and recovery plans to achieve timely, cost-effective delivery and readiness for aircraft- and system-level integration, verification, and acceptance.
• Support the Program Manager to ensure program goals are achieved and customer-related issues are resolved.

Skills

Subcontracts management

Contract management

Project planning

Financial management

Earned value

Supplier performance

Communication skills

Engineering collaboration

AI/ML awareness

Travel availability

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

The Air & Naval (A&N) - International Air Division delivers sophisticated, mission-critical systems for air and maritime applications. Our teams work across airborne and maritime mission systems, integrated sensors, command-and-control solutions, training and simulation environments, and data management platforms. We collaborate closely with defense partners to deliver reliable, effective, and operationally relevant capabilities.

We are seeking a Subcontracts Program Manager (SPM) to lead the development, procurement and management of complex aircraft systems with Subcontractors. Systems may consist of - anti-submarine warfare sensors, aircraft communications systems, radars, navigation systems, weapon systems and electronic countermeasures for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. The SPM will ensure subcontracted solutions meet technical, commercial, schedule, quality, airworthiness, and integration requirements while maintaining strong relationships with subcontractors. The role may also support other A&N subcontract portfolios as business needs evolve.

Reporting to a Program Manager, the SPM will be accountable throughout the pre-contract and post-contract award lifecycle and will coordinate closely with program, engineering, supply chain, commercial, quality, and configuration management teams.

• Identify, assess, and develop relationships with qualified suppliers and subcontractors whose technical capabilities, quality systems, capacity, and business practices align with program requirements.
• Support Request for Proposal (RFP) development, including technical and programmatic requirements, evaluation criteria, deliverables, milestones, and project management expectations.
• Develop subcontract Statements of Work (SOWs), data requirements, and supplier deliverables aligned with Prime Contract obligations, system requirements, and aircraft interface constraints.
• Evaluate bid responses for cost, schedule, scope alignment, technical feasibility, integration maturity, quality, airworthiness evidence, and overall risk posture.
• Support negotiations and supplier selection recommendations, balancing technical, commercial, schedule, and program risk considerations.
• Manage subcontract cost, schedule, scope, performance, quality, and risk while leading cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical and commercial issues.
• Coordinate risk and opportunity management with Program Managers and technical leads, with particular attention to aircraft interfaces, dependencies, obsolescence, and certification or airworthiness impacts.
• Monitor subcontractor design, development, qualification, verification, production, and delivery progress, and present clear status during internal and customer reviews.
• Ensure subcontract changes and amendments remain aligned with Prime Contract requirements, approved configuration baselines, interface control documentation, and program change-control processes.
• Prepare estimates for subcontract management effort and assess the cost, schedule, technical, and integration impacts of proposed changes.
• Serve as the primary interface with subcontractor Program and Project Managers, driving timely decisions, issue resolution, delivery momentum, and collaborative working relationships.
• Develop and oversee corrective action and recovery plans to achieve timely, cost-effective delivery and readiness for aircraft- and system-level integration, verification, and acceptance.
• Support the Program Manager to ensure program goals are achieved and customer-related issues are resolved.

Qualifications

• Experience managing subcontracts, contracts, suppliers, or related program activities.
• Experience managing major contracts or complex subcontract work packages, including cost, schedule, scope, performance, risk, and change control.
• Working knowledge of project planning, financial management, earned value concepts, and supplier performance reporting.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders; influence outcomes; negotiate solutions; and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Ability to work with engineering teams to analyze, evaluate, and constructively challenge complex technical designs, integration approaches, and proposed solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, project management, or relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of project management and systems integration practices applicable to complex aircraft subsystems, including requirements management, interface control, configuration management, verification, qualification, and acceptance.
• Experience working or familiarity with AI/ML models
• Must be able to travel up to 20% of the time depending on the program phase

Preferred Experience

• Defense or aerospace experience, particularly in aircraft subsystem integration, airborne mission systems, avionics, or aircraft modification programs.
• Experience working with Subcontractors in other countries
• Experience with medium-sized or larger programs or subcontracts valued in excess of $20M.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.

It is a requirement that General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada be registered with the Canadian Controlled Goods program and that all of its workforce be security assessed. Successful applicants must meet all applicable security requirements, including but not limited to the ability to obtain and maintain a Canadian government security clearance. Applicants may be required to meet additional security requirements in order to gain access to technical data, classified areas or information that is subject to international regulations. You must be eligible to work in Canada.