IPT (Integrated Project Team) Lead

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

HSA with company contribution

FSA

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense seeks an Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead to guide an engineering team in achieving cost, schedule, and technical performance goals. You will oversee staffing, workload, and staff development while maintaining strong customer relationships and rigorous proposal development.

This is a full-time on-site role based in Mukilteo, WA with travel to Huntington Beach, CA. A DoD Secret clearance or ability to obtain one is required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in space and defense industries.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, plan, and execute projects.
• Proven team leadership experience.
• Experience with space/defense prime contractors and government agencies.
• Ability to read and generate blueprints, drawings, and technical diagrams.
• Current DoD Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams to achieve cost, schedule, and technical performance goals.
• Provide business, technical, and strategic leadership across projects.
• Assign personnel with required skills to project needs.
• Monitor cost, schedule, and technical status of all team projects.
• Ensure healthy work environments and support professional development.
• Balance workloads and oversee hiring, termination, and staff management.
• Oversee business development and ensure financially sound proposals.
• Collaborate with other teams to support company, customer, and personnel needs.
• Lead strategic initiatives to drive company growth.
• Manage team budgets.

Skills

Team leadership

Project planning

Budget management

Strategic leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

We design and deliver dependable hypersonic/strategic missile defense systems; integrating multiple technologies into unified, mission-ready hardware supporting demanding environments.

Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead

As an Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, you guide an engineering team to achieve excellence in cost, schedule, and technical performance. This role ensures healthy team dynamics, develops personnel, sustains workload through strong customer relationships, and oversees proposal rigor and strategic initiatives. The IPT Lead is ultimately accountable for team performance, staffing, and project execution.

Role Details

This role will be a full‑time onsite role at our Mukilteo, WA location. The position will be on a 9/80 work schedule.

Travel: This role will have a travel expectation of 10-25% to our Huntington Beach, CA location.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams to achieve cost, schedule, and technical performance goals.
• Provide business, technical, and strategic leadership across assigned projects.
• Assign personnel with the required skills and experience to project needs.
• Monitor cost, schedule, and technical status of all team projects.
• Ensure healthy work environments by aligning personnel skills to tasks and supporting professional development.
• Balance team workloads and oversee hiring, termination, and staff management.
• Sustain team workload through strong customer relationships and rigorous proposal development.
• Oversee team business development efforts and ensure complete, financially sound proposals.
• Collaborate effectively with other teams to support company, customer, and personnel needs.
• Lead strategic initiatives to drive company growth.
• Manage team budgets.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Related Science, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in the space and defense industry.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, plan, and execute projects.
• Proven team leadership experience.
• Experience working with space and defense prime contractors and government agencies.
• Ability to read and generate blueprints, drawings, and technical diagrams.
• A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Engineering, Related Science, or Field.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.