Contracts Manager

QinetiQ U.S.; Lorton (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

QinetiQ US is seeking a Contracts Manager to lead a team of contract professionals on prime government contracts. You will interface with Government contracting officers, manage the full contract lifecycle, and ensure compliance across development and production programs.

The role requires a strong background in FAR/DFARS, complex negotiations, and experience with hardware programs. This position is based in Virginia and offers a path toward greater program leadership and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Legal Studies, or related field.
• 8+ years administering U.S. Government prime contracts and/or major prime subcontracts on the seller side.
• Experience on hardware production programs including delivery, inspection, acceptance, and configuration obligations.
• Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS and contract types (T&M, FFP, cost-type).
• Proven negotiation skills and ability to manage contractual risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of contract professionals, reviewing work products for accuracy and compliance.
• Partner with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to support hardware development and production efforts.
• Oversee solicitation reviews, RFP analysis, and compliance assessments for development and production programs.
• Lead or oversee negotiations for complex hardware, production, and delivery-driven contracts.
• Oversee contract setup, transition, and administration across development and production programs.
• Ensure timely and compliant contract closeout and communicate obligations to program teams.
• Monitor funding, deliverables, and customer communications at a managerial level.
• Support resolution of schedule, acceptance, or production changes.

Skills

Contract administration

Negotiation

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Leadership

MS Word & Excel

Costpoint

ServiceNow

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Legal Studies etc.

Master's degree or NCMA certification

Tools

Costpoint

ServiceNow

Job description

Contracts Manager

Location: US-VA-Lorton

We are a world-class team of professionals who deliver next generation technology and products in robotic and autonomous platforms, ground, soldier, and maritime systems in 50+ locations world-wide. Much of our work contributes to innovative research in the fields of sensor science, signal processing, data fusion, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and augmented reality (AR).

QinetiQ US's dedicated experts in defense, aerospace, security, and related fields all work together to explore new ways of protecting the American Warfighter, Security Forces, and Allies. Being a part of QinetiQ US means being central to the safety and security of the world around us. Partnering with our customers, we help save lives; reduce risks to society; and maintain the global infrastructure on which we all depend.

Why Join QinetiQ US?

If you have the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges, then you will experience a unique working environment where innovative teams blend different perspectives, disciplines, and technologies to discover new ways of solving complex problems. In our diverse and inclusive environment, you can be authentic, feel valued, be respected, and realize your full potential. QinetiQ US will support you with workplace flexibility, a commitment to the health and well-being of you and your family and provide opportunities to work with a purpose. We are committed to supporting your success in both your professional and personal lives.

Position Overview

QinetiQ US is looking for a Contracts Manager. The selected candidate will lead a team of 3-5 contract professionals administering the company's prime contracts and major prime subcontracts as the seller, serving as the primary contractual interface to Government contracting officers and prime customer contracts organizations on hardware development and production programs. Reporting to the Director of Contracts, this role provides leadership across the full contract lifecycle, manages a small portfolio directly, and serves as the primary escalation point for the team. The Manager ensures compliance, drives consistency, and strengthens communication flow across programs transitioning from development into lowrate and fullrate production.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of contract administrators supporting development and production programs.
• Review and approve team work products, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and consistency.
• Serve as the firstline escalation point for contractual issues, customer concerns, and deliveryrelated challenges.
• Keep the Director of Contracts informed of risks, issues, and significant program developments.

Business Partnership & Strategy

• Partner with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to support hardware development and production efforts.
• Provide early contract risk assessments and support capture, proposal strategy, and gate reviews.
• Recommend contract strategies that balance cost, schedule, technical performance, and production realities.

Contract Acquisition

• Oversee solicitation reviews, RFP analysis, and compliance assessments for development and production programs.
• Review and approve proposal inputs, cost volume support, and reps & certs.
• Lead or oversee negotiations for complex hardware, production, and deliverydriven contracts.
• Ensure award documents are reviewed thoroughly and contractual obligations are clearly communicated to program teams.

Contract Administration

• Oversee contract setup, transition, and administration across development and production programs.
• Ensure accurate interpretation of requirements, including delivery, inspection, acceptance, and configuration obligations.
• Monitor performance, funding, deliverables, modifications, and customer communications at a managerial level.
• Support resolution of complex issues related to schedule, acceptance, or production changes.
• Ensure timely and compliant contract closeout.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure adherence to FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and company policies.
• Monitor regulatory changes and support updates to procedures and training.
• Oversee OCI reviews and audit support (DCAA, DCMA, customer).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Legal Studies, or related field.
• 8+ years administering U.S. Government prime contracts and/or major prime subcontracts on the seller side, including direct negotiation with Government contracting officers or prime customer contracts leads.
• Demonstrated ownership of customer-directed change definitization and requests for equitable adjustment, together with DD-250 inspection and acceptance, CDRL compliance, funding limitation management (FAR 52.232-22 / limitation of cost), and contract closeout.
• Experience on a hardware production program of record, including delivery, inspection, acceptance, and configuration obligations.
• Experience leading or mentoring contract professionals.
• Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS and contract types (T&M, FFP, costtype).
• Proven negotiation skills and ability to manage contractual risk.
• Excellent communication, organization, and decisionmaking skills.
• Proficiency in MS Word and Excel; familiarity with Costpoint and ServiceNow preferred.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR/EAR.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. An active clearance is not required to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or NCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, CCCM).
• Experience with programs transitioning from development to production.
• Experience improving contract processes or implementing tools.

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this role is $134,800 - $175,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. QinetiQ US considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Company EEO Statement

Accessibility/Accommodation

If because of a medical condition or disability you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone] Opt. 1 and let us know the nature of your request and contact information.

QinetiQ US is an Equal Opportunity employer. All Qualified Applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.