Associate Program Manager

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/AD&D Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO, seeks an Associate Program Manager to join a large, complex DoD program with multiple concurrent development efforts.

You will interface with the PM team, including the SW Architect and Principal Engineer. Lead cross‑functional teams across systems engineering, software development, cybersecurity, finance, facilities, contracts, and business development, and ensure requirements are met on schedule and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, scientific, or other technical discipline.
• Experience with EVMS, IMS, risk and risk reduction, and customer/subcontractor relations.
• Experience with scheduling applications and maintaining detailed program schedules.
• Strong teamwork, leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective customer presentations for reviews and status updates.
• Knowledge of Waterfall and Agile/SAFe development schedules.
• Travel: approximately 10–20% and ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead project/program teams across systems engineering, software development, cybersecurity, finance, facilities, contracts, and business development.
• Interface with the PM team and customers to ensure requirements are met on time and within budget.
• Support program management activities including IMS, EAC, and staffing planning.

Skills

EVMS, IMS, Risk management

Scheduling

Team leadership

Verbal/written communication

Customer presentations

Waterfall & Agile/SAFe

Travel 10-20%

TS/SCI clearance

Education

BA/BS degree in business, engineering, scientific or technical discipline

Tools

Atlassian tools

Scheduling software

Job description

• Job Level : Entry Level (less than 2 years)
• Level of Education : BA/BS
• Job Type : Full-Time/Regular
• Date Updated : 08/19/2026
• Years of Experience : Up to 2 Years
• Starting Date : 08/31/2026
• Travel Requirement : Domestic
• Compensation : $85,000 - $90,000
• Capabilities : Space Training & Cyber
• Salary : $85000 USD Annually - $90,000.00 USD Annually
• Years Of Experience : 001

Job Description

Readiness Delivered. At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with discipline. We work hard, and take care of our customers, employees, and families. Recognized as thought leaders in our industry, we are motivated by creating and delivering innovative solutions to our nation and global customers. Kratos has an exciting opportunity for a Associate Program Managerin Colorado Springs, CO, in support of a Department of Defense (DOD) customer.We are seeking an Associate Program Manager (PM) to join a highly motivated team in running a large, complex program that has multiple development efforts occurring in parallel. The successful candidate will effectively interface directly with the larger PM team, including SW Architect, and Principal Engineer. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading project/program teams that will focus on systems engineering, software development, cybersecurity, finance, facilities, contracts, and business development. The candidate will play a critical role in ensuring the program requirements are met, while maintaining schedule and budget.

Key focus areas will include:

• Support to the agile development lifecycle – cradle to grave
• Performance of CAM and EV related duties as required
• Support the program management office to maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), Estimate at Complete (EAC), and staffing profile
• Articulate technical concepts orally and in written forms for the customer, users, and internal stakeholders
• Support tracking overall progression of tasks to ensure on-time & on-budget completion per the planned development release schedule
• Monitoring and assessing progress from the team to ensure the program is on track, while managing customer expectations and interactions.
• Effective management of subcontractors, including Statements of Work
• Proactively leading risk identification and mitigation plans, and proactively conducting and leading contingency plans
• Ensuring Agreement Data Requirements Lists (ADRLs) are delivered on time and meet Data Item Description requirements
• Collaborate with functional / resource managers (matrix organization) to allocate staff resources and identify resource needs
• Properly manage classified information and activities
• Manage the capture of Engineering Change Proposals by leading proposal efforts
• Interface directly with customers to ensure project requirements are met and guarantee our performance exceeds customer expectations

Experience and Skills

• Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from an accredited college or university in business, engineering, scientific, or other technical discipline
• Demonstrate proficiency with managing programmatic attributes such as EVMS, IMS, Risk and Risk reduction efforts, and customer and subcontractor relations and negotiations
• Experience with scheduling applications, with the ability to work with a program scheduler to develop and maintain a detailed Program Schedule, effectively tracking technical progress
• Strong teaming, leadership, organizational and verbal/written communication skills
• Ability to developand deliver effective customer presentations (design reviews, statusreports, kickoff meetings, test plans) demonstrating an ability to communicate comfortably at a system level
• Proven ability to quickly pivot as appropriate to address issues caused by changing situations, such as customer needs and scope modifications and/or supplier challenges, and potentially capitalize on any opportunities the change may provide
• Knowledge of Waterfall and Agile/SAFe-Iterative development program schedule methodologies
• Travel required ~ 10-20%.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Experience working US Government Projects, specifically with the US Space Force satellite ground systems.
• Experience working with RF communication equipment
• Experience working in Satellite communications
• Experience with Atlassian tools
• RF Antenna site construction and installations
• Operational Center design, verification and delivery
• Experience working with an Agile/Iterative software development scheduling approach
• Experienced in Satellite TT&C, C2, and/or Space to Ground communications
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus

#LI-Onsite

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range:$85,000-$90,000

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offerings—from commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as aprotected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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