Defense Program Manager

TCLAD; Prescott (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

TCLAD, Inc. is seeking a Defense Program Manager to own defense programs from capture through rate production. You will coordinate with primes, suppliers, and government offices, ensuring ITAR/EAR/DFARS compliance and robust program controls.

The role requires leading cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, and finance to deliver on-time, within budget, and with quality. Travel up to 25% and U.S. person status may apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• 7+ years in program or project management with 4+ years on defense/aerospace projects.
• Track record delivering hardware programs from development to production.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, DFARS, AS9100 and NADCAP requirements.
• Experience building schedules, budgets, and risk registers.

Responsibilities

• Lead defense programs through full lifecycle from proposal to production.
• Maintain integrated master schedules, budgets, resource plans, and report status and risks.
• Run phase-gate and design reviews; drive corrective actions for cost/schedule/quality slips.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and finance without direct authority.
• Interface with defense primes, Tier 1 suppliers, and government program offices.

Skills

Customer-facing communication

Leadership without direct authority

Risk management

Program management

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, materials, or manufacturing engineering, or equivalent technical experience

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

Job description

Job Description: Defense Program Manager

Position Summary

The Defense Program Manager owns TCLAD's defense programs end to end, from capture and qualification through rate production, and is the single accountable point of contact for defense prime contractors and their suppliers.

About TCLAD

TCLAD designs and manufactures thermally conductive circuit materials and substrates that move heat out of high-power electronics. Our products help defense, automotive, and industrial customers run power devices cooler, smaller, and more reliably. Defense platforms are driving higher power density in radar, directed energy, electronic warfare, and power supplies. TCLAD is growing its defense business to meet that demand, and this role is central to that growth.

Key Responsibilities

Program execution

• Lead assigned defense programs through the full lifecycle: proposal, design and qualification, first article, low-rate initial production, and full-rate production.
• Build and maintain integrated master schedules, budgets, and resource plans; report status, risks, and earned value where required.
• Run phase-gate and design reviews; drive corrective action when cost, schedule, or quality slips.
• Manage engineering change requests, configuration control, and document packages through program close.

Customer and business development

• Serve as the primary interface to defense primes, Tier 1 suppliers, and government program offices.
• Partner with Sales to qualify opportunities, prepare quotes and proposals, and grow share within existing accounts.
• Lead customer program reviews, source inspections, and audits.
• Translate customer requirements (drawings, specs, flow-downs) into clear internal requirements.

Compliance and Quality

• Ensure programs meet ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and contract flow-down requirements, including specialty metals and counterfeit parts prevention.
• Work with Quality on AS9100 compliance, first article inspections (AS9102), PPAP where required, and supplier qualification.
• Maintain controlled handling of technical data and support export classification.

Cross-functional leadership

• Lead program teams spanning engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and finance without direct authority.
• Coordinate with Operations on capacity, materials, and build plans to protect delivery commitments.
• Identify program risks early and drive mitigation plans with clear owners and dates.
• Capture lessons learned and improve TCLAD's program management processes and tools.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, materials, or manufacturing engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• 7+ years in program or project management, with at least 4 years on defense or aerospace programs.
• Track record delivering hardware programs from development into production, ideally in electronics, PCBs, or electronic materials.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, DFARS, AS9100 and NADCAP requirements.
• Skill building and managing schedules, budgets, and risk registers (MS Project, Primavera, or similar).
• Strong customer-facing communication, including presenting to senior customer and internal leaders.
• U.S. person status as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.62), required for access to export-controlled data.

Preferred

• PMP or equivalent program management certification.
• Customer facing experience with defense primes on radar, EW, power conversion, or RF programs.
• Familiarity with thermal management materials and/or printed circuit boards.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one.
• Background in Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement.

What Success Looks Like In The First 12 Months

90 days

Owns all active defense programs, with a baseline schedule, budget, and risk register for each

6 months

Monthly program reviews running with key customers; on-time delivery tracked and trending to target

12 months

At least one new program qualified or awarded; on-time delivery and program margin at or above plan; zero export compliance findings

Work Environment And Requirements

• Office and manufacturing floor environment; PPE required in production areas.
• Travel up to 25% to customer sites, supplier sites, and industry events.
• This position requires access to technical data controlled under ITAR and EAR. Candidates must be U.S. persons or otherwise eligible for access without an export license.
• Some programs may require a U.S. security clearance; continued eligibility may be a condition of the role.

Equal opportunity statement

TCLAD 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, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.