Defense Programs Lead — Mission-Critical Systems

Actalent; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401(k) with immediate vesting

Profit sharing

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Program Manager to lead defense systems programs, including hypersonics and missile defense, from planning through production. You will partner with engineering and cross‑functional teams to deliver mission‑ready solutions that meet cost, schedule, quality, and customer objectives.

You will own integrated program plans, manage risks, and interface with customers and government stakeholders while guiding program execution in a fast-paced defense environment.

Qualifications

• This role requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, program management, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting or managing aerospace/defense/technical programs.
• Demonstrated experience in cost and schedule management and program planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead defense programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
• Own overall program performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, and customer objectives.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans with schedules, budgets, milestones, and metrics.
• Coordinate cross‑functional execution across engineering, operations, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and test.
• Serve as primary interface for customers, prime contractors, government stakeholders, suppliers, and leadership.
• Identify risks and drive mitigation and recovery plans.
• Lead program reviews and communicate financial performance and key decisions.
• Support design reviews, test-readiness, qualification, and production-readiness activities.
• Manage statements of work, changes, and customer requests throughout lifecycle.
• Support proposals, cost and schedule estimates, negotiations, and follow-on opportunities.

Skills

Program management

Cost management

Schedule management

Budget management

Cross-functional coordination

Stakeholder management

ERP systems

MS Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, program management, or related field

Master’s degree in a related field (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems

PLM systems

Job description

Actalent seeks a Program Manager to lead defense systems programs, including hypersonics and missile defense, from planning through production. You will partner with engineering and cross‑functional teams to deliver mission‑ready solutions that meet cost, schedule, quality, and customer objectives.

You will own integrated program plans, manage risks, and interface with customers and government stakeholders while guiding program execution in a fast-paced defense environment.