Defense & Mission Systems Program Manager

Gonzalez Contract Services; Pontiac (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gonzalez Contract Services team is seeking an experienced Program Manager - Defense & Mission Systems to lead complex customer programs from award to closeout. You will own program performance, budget, schedule, risk, and cross-functional coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality.

You will interface with customers, manage change, ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and AS9100, and mentor teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, project management, or related field required or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of program or project management experience; 10+ years preferred in defense, aerospace, automation, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience with DoD/DFARS, FAR/DFARS contracting environments.
• Knowledge of AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full program lifecycle from contract award through customer acceptance and project closeout.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, building trusted relationships and leading program reviews, executive meetings, and technical discussions.
• Own program financial performance including revenue, gross margin, forecasting, cost-to-complete, cash flow, and approved change management.
• Develop and maintain integrated program schedules, budgets, manpower plans, procurement strategies, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Controls Engineering, Quality, Field Service, Installation, and Operations to meet program objectives.
• Manage contract requirements, statements of work, technical deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, and customer-directed changes.
• Develop and maintain program risk registers and mitigation plans addressing technical, schedule, supplier, commercial, quality, and customer risks.
• Monitor supplier performance, long-lead materials, and critical procurement activities.
• Lead executive program reviews and provide KPI, schedule, financial, and risk reporting.
• Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, FAT, SAT, first article activities, and customer acceptance events.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and customer-specific requirements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Travel willingness

Customer relationship

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline

PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Acumatica

Epicor

Oracle ERP

Job description

The Gonzalez Contract Services team is seeking an experienced Program Manager - Defense & Mission Systems to lead complex customer programs from award to closeout. You will own program performance, budget, schedule, risk, and cross-functional coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality.

You will interface with customers, manage change, ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and AS9100, and mentor teams.