FAA/Defense Program Lead — End-to-End Delivery

Indra Group; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Indra Group in Overland Park, KS seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead the delivery of complex airspace, aviation and defense programs for FAA and DoD; owning end-to-end lifecycle from capture to final acceptance.

You will guide cross‑functional teams, manage risks, budgets, EVM and compliance with FAR/DFARS, ensure safety and regulatory requirements, and interface with government stakeholders to drive program success.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of experience managing complex aerospace, aviation or defense programs.
• Proficient in MS Office, including Project or other schedule software.
• Experience delivering programs for U.S. government customers, preferably the FAA or Department of Defense
• Strong knowledge of federal contracting frameworks, including FAR/DFARS
• Experience with safety‑critical systems and regulated environments
• Proven expertise in risk management, change control and program governance
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and Earned Value (EV)
• Experience leading cross‑functional, matrixed teams in a technical environment
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience interfacing with government customers

Responsibilities

• Lead proposal development for FAA and defense‑related RFPs/RFQs in compliance with FAR/DFARS
• Identify, vet and negotiate with subcontractors in accordance with federal procurement standards
• Ensure proposals align with technical, regulatory and certification requirements
• Develop compliant and competitive program plans including SOWs, WBS, IMS, BOE and resource plans
• Conduct risk and opportunity analyses
• Lead end‑to‑end execution of FAA and defense programs, ensuring adherence to contractual, technical and regulatory requirements
• Establish and maintain program governance, including milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR)
• Manage Integrated Master Schedule and alignment across engineering, manufacturing and other stakeholders
• Direct cross‑functional teams delivering safety‑critical systems, including hardware, software and integrated solutions
• Oversee subcontractor performance, ensuring compliance with cost, schedule, quality and federal requirements
• Manage installation, integration, test and commissioning activities at customer sites
• Drive program closeout, including documentation, certification support and final government acceptance
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulatory frameworks and applicable standards
• Support system certification and approval processes, including documentation, testing and validation activities
• Maintain audit readiness for government reviews and regulatory inspections
• Ensure compliance with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and security requirements
• Establish and maintain a formal risk and opportunity management process, including risk registers and mitigation plans
• Lead change control processes in alignment with contractual requirements
• Monitor program performance using KPIs and Earned Value Management (EVM) as required
• Identify and resolve program issues proactively, including escalation to leadership and government stakeholders
• Own program financial performance, including revenue, margin and cash flow
• Develop and manage program budgets, forecasts and Estimates at Completion (EAC)
• Perform variance analysis (cost and schedule) and implement corrective actions
• Lead program reviews, including PMR and customer status briefings
• Build strong relationships with government stakeholders, ensuring transparency and trust
• Align internal stakeholders and resolve cross‑functional challenges to maintain program execution

Skills

MS Project

FAR/DFARS

Government contracting

Risk management

Earned Value

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering/Systems or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Program analytics tools

Job description

Indra Group in Overland Park, KS seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead the delivery of complex airspace, aviation and defense programs for FAA and DoD; owning end-to-end lifecycle from capture to final acceptance.

You will guide cross‑functional teams, manage risks, budgets, EVM and compliance with FAR/DFARS, ensure safety and regulatory requirements, and interface with government stakeholders to drive program success.