Deputy Program Manager

SES Space & Defense; Yorktown (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

SES Space & Defense in Yorktown, VA seeks a Program Management professional to lead complex government and aerospace programs within a fast-paced, highly regulated environment. You will coordinate across engineering, contracts, finance, and supply chain to ensure delivery against cost, schedule, and performance goals.

The role requires strong leadership, risk management, and communication skills, with U.S. citizenship and Top Secret clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of experience or Master’s degree with 6+ years in government or aerospace.
• Experience leading projects, IPTs, cost accounts, or cross-functional execution.
• Strong understanding of program lifecycle, scheduling, risk, budgeting, and customer coordination.
• Familiarity with EVM, program controls, forecasting, and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end execution of aerospace and government programs, aligning with contractual, technical, cost, and schedule goals.
• Coordinate cross-functional IPTs across engineering, contracts, finance, supply chain, and external partners.
• Manage program risk, budget forecasting, and Earned Value Management tracking.
• Interface with government customers and stakeholders to report status and resolve issues.
• Support change management, baselines, and contract modifications.
• Deliver program metrics and status updates to leadership and customers.

Skills

Program management

IPTs leadership

Risk management

Budgeting

Customer coordination

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

Visio

Costpoint

Salesforce

FAR/DFAR compliance

Job description

Who We Are:

At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world’s most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide.

Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission-critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high-performance solutions when mission success is critical.

At SES Space & Defense, our people are our competitive advantage. You’ll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, innovation, accountability, and delivering real-world impact for customers whose missions matter most.

What You’ll Do:

In this role, you will help lead the execution of complex government and aerospace programs, partnering closely with Program Leadership to ensure successful delivery across cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer commitments. You will serve as a central coordination point across engineering, finance, contracts, supply chain, configuration management, and external partners, helping drive alignment and execution throughout the full program lifecycle. This role requires strong operational leadership, program discipline, and the ability to manage risk, customer expectations, and cross-functional priorities in fast-moving, highly regulated environments. You will help establish structure, accountability, and program rigor while supporting mission-critical aerospace and satellite programs from kickoff through closeout.

• Support end-to-end execution of complex aerospace and government programs, ensuring alignment to contractual, technical, cost, and schedule objectives
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) across engineering, contracts, finance, supply chain, configuration management, and external partners
• Partner with Program Leadership and Chief Engineering teams to manage program execution, risk, and operational priorities throughout the program lifecycle
• Support program financial management activities including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and Earned Value Management (EVM) tracking
• Lead risk and opportunity management activities, including identification, mitigation planning, and recurring program reviews
• Interface directly with government customers and stakeholders to communicate program status, resolve issues, and ensure successful execution of contractual commitments
• Support change management activities to ensure program baselines, scope modifications, and approvals are properly documented and controlled
• Coordinate delivery of contractual deliverables, subcontractor execution activities, and program reporting requirements
• Present program metrics, execution status, and operational updates to leadership and customer stakeholders
• Participate in the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets, and financial terms and conditions of contracts.
• Help drive continuous improvement, operational discipline, and effective communication across matrixed program teams

Who You Are:

You are a program management professional with experience supporting complex government, aerospace, or defense programs in highly matrixed and fast-paced environments. You understand how to balance cost, schedule, technical execution, and customer expectations while coordinating across engineering, finance, contracts, supply chain, and operational teams. You bring strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, along with the ability to drive execution, resolve conflicts, and maintain structure in environments where priorities and requirements evolve quickly. You are comfortable operating with ambiguity, influencing across teams without direct authority, and helping programs stay aligned to mission and contractual objectives. Ultimately, you serve as a trusted operational leader who helps keep critical aerospace and satellite programs moving forward successfully.

• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of experience, or Master’s degree with 6+ years of experience supporting U.S. Government or aerospace programs
• Experience leading projects, IPTs, cost accounts, or cross-functional execution activities supporting complex technical programs
• Strong understanding of program lifecycle execution including planning, scheduling, risk management, budgeting, and customer coordination
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate requirements, technical inputs, and program objectives into executable action plans.
• Demonstrated conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Experience working within regulated government contracting environments and supporting contractual deliverables and compliance requirements
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM), program controls, forecasting, and variance analysis methodologies
• Proven ability to lead and influence matrixed teams in collaborative, fast-paced environments
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience supporting aerospace, satellite, defense, or highly technical engineering programs preferred
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility
• Program management certification, such as PMI certification, preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Visio, and Microsoft Project.
• Familiarity with Costpoint, Salesforce, and FAR/DFAR environments preferred

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

The final base salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the position’s location, the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

Where applicable, this position may also be eligible for an annual bonus. Employees are eligible to participate in SES Space & Defense’s benefits programs, which include paid vacation, sick and personal leave; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan; and others.