Defense Space Program Manager – Hypersonics, 9/80 Schedule

Karman Space and Defense; West Valley City (UT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space and Defense is seeking a Program Manager to lead defense programs from planning through production and delivery, ensuring performance across cost, schedule, technical, quality, and contractual objectives. You will coordinate cross-functional execution and serve as the primary interface with customers and stakeholders.

The role requires a BS in a related field, 5+ years of aerospace/defense program experience, and the ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Business Program Management, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
• 5+ years of experience supporting or managing aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex technical programs.
• A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Responsibilities

• Leads assigned programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
• Owns performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives.
• Develops and maintains integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and performance metrics.
• Coordinates cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and test organizations.
• Serves as a primary interface for customers, prime contractors, government stakeholders, suppliers, and internal leadership.
• Identifies technical, programmatic, supply-chain, cost, and schedule risks and drives mitigation and recovery plans.
• Leads composite material development, fabrication, and integration activities to ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Coordinates cross‑functional execution for composite tooling, layup, curing, inspection, and qualification processes.
• Leads recurring program reviews and communicates financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and corrective actions.
• Supports design reviews, test-readiness reviews, qualification activities, production-readiness reviews, and customer acceptance events.
• Manages contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes.
• Supports proposals, estimates, contract negotiations, follow-on opportunities, and program-growth activities.
• Role requires frequent travel up to 50% to our California and Utah facilities.

Skills

DoD Secret clearance

5+ years experience

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Job description

Karman Space and Defense is seeking a Program Manager to lead defense programs from planning through production and delivery, ensuring performance across cost, schedule, technical, quality, and contractual objectives. You will coordinate cross-functional execution and serve as the primary interface with customers and stakeholders.

The role requires a BS in a related field, 5+ years of aerospace/defense program experience, and the ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance.