Assistant Program Manager

Leidos; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos seeks an Assistant Program Manager in Chesapeake, VA to lead programs within the Maritime Readiness Division. You will oversee Foreign Military Sales Navy initiatives, system upgrades, sustainment, and integration efforts, coordinating with foreign partners and US Government customers.

The role requires strategic leadership for contract execution, risk management, and performance across a multidisciplinary team. Travel internationally may be involved to support vessels and programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 15+ years of relevant experience and five years of USG ship/submarine construction or overhaul experience.
• Experience with Foreign Military Sales programs and geographically dispersed environments.
• Strong writing, analytical, and organizational skills; ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Support the Program Manager in executing contract requirements to meet cost, schedule, technical, and performance objectives.
• Coordinate day-to-day program activities across multidisciplinary teams, subcontractors, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Monitor program status, progress, schedules, risks, issues, and actions; recommend corrective actions.
• Support government engagements, including reviews, working groups, and status meetings.
• Prepare program briefings, technical documents, and government-facing deliverables.
• Plan resources, staffing, schedules, and budgets; monitor cost and performance metrics.
• Coordinate activities supporting ship construction, modernization, repair, and overhaul; manage IPB and resource-loaded schedules.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Technical writing

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Defense Sector is seeking a highly motivated Assistant Program Manager to manage programs within the Maritime Readiness Division in our Chesapeake, VA office.

The candidate will be responsible for effectively executing a Foreign Military Sale Navy program supporting systems upgrades, sustainment material, systems integration support, training, and other efforts related to the transfer and acquisition, operation, and maintenance of naval systems and vessels. The ideal candidate will possess superior analytical and problem-solving skills, provide strong leadership to a globally dispersed team, and establish solid working relationships with foreign partners and technical staff, as well as our external Government customers.

The Assistant Program Manager will provide strategic leadership for contract execution, customer engagement, technical performance, and operational excellence while supporting successful delivery of cost, schedule, and performance objectives. As strategic leader, the successful candidate will guide multidisciplinary teams, foster collaboration, and provide continuity of program management and leadership for delegated activities. Additionally, the Assistant Program Manager will monitor project activities, develop strong customer and employee relationships, lead highly skilled technical teams, and ensure disciplined execution and compliance across every aspect of contract performance.

Primary Responsibilities.

• Support the Program Manager in the execution of contract requirements to achieve cost, schedule, technical, and performance objectives.
• Coordinate day-to-day program activities across multidisciplinary teams, subcontractors, vendors, and other program stakeholders.
• Monitor program status, technical progress, schedules, risks, issues, and action items and recommend corrective actions to the Program Manager.
• Support Government and stakeholder engagements, including program reviews, technical reviews, working groups, and status meetings.
• Prepare program briefings, technical documentation, status reports, and other Government-facing deliverables.
• Support program planning and resource allocation activities, including staffing, schedules, budgets, and workload priorities.
• Monitor cost, schedule, and performance metrics and identify emerging trends or issues that may affect program objectives.
• Coordinate engineering, technical, logistics, production, and program management activities supporting ship construction, modernization, repair, and overhaul efforts.
• Support Integrated Program Baseline (IPB), resource-loaded schedule, and program performance management activities.
• Coordinate assigned contractor and subcontractor activities and track deliverables, milestones, and actions through completion.
• Support program risk management by identifying and assessing risks, developing mitigation actions, and tracking risks through resolution.
• Facilitate coordination with U.S. Government and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) stakeholders, as applicable, to support program requirements and execution.
• Support workforce planning, onboarding, training, and personnel management activities to maintain appropriate staffing and continuity of operations.
• Ensure assigned activities and deliverables comply with FAR, DFARS, contractual, administrative, and applicable Navy requirements.
• Act on behalf of the Program Manager for delegated program activities and responsibilities, as authorized.

Basic Qualifications.

• Bachelor's degree and 15+ years of prior relevant experience with increasing engineering management responsibility are required, including at least five (5) years of USG ship or submarine construction or repair/overhaul experience
• Demonstrated experience with Foreign Military Sales programs
• Demonstrated experience managing programs with geographically dispersed and/or OCONUS (Outside Continental United States) operating environments.
• Strong technical writing, editing, analytical, and information organization skills, with the ability to communicate complex, technical tasks clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work independently, manage rapidly changing priorities, and effectively lead cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and work in maritime, industrial, or forward-deployed environments, including visits onboard vessels in port.
• Active Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications.

• Current PMP Certification is preferred.

Original Posting: October 26, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.