Program Deputy Director - SPY-1

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Crane (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is seeking a Program Deputy Director to lead critical radar sustainment and modernization efforts for a government customer.

You will oversee planning, execution, and delivery of refurbishment, testing, and integration activities to ensure technical excellence and mission readiness. You will coordinate across design, systems engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment planning, while interacting with government sponsors and industry partners.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in defense programs, with at least 3 years in program or technical leadership roles.
• Experience managing radar/warfare hardware programs with government sponsors.
• Understanding of government acquisition practices and sustainment planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of radar sustainment, refurbishment, testing, and integration programs.
• Develop and manage integrated master schedules (IMS) and work breakdown structures (WBS).
• Coordinate technical tasking and reviews across IPTs.
• Manage government and subcontractor relationships and provide program reporting.
• Ensure alignment with readiness, affordability, and data controls.
• Lead development of proposals, ROMs, and scope expansions for follow-on work.
• Support business development by identifying adjacent radar sustainment opportunities.

Skills

Program leadership

Defense programs

Risk management

Cost control

Schedule management

Stakeholder management

Government contracting

Digital engineering

Education

PMP certification

Tools

MBSE

Digital engineering

Job description

The Program Deputy Director leads critical radar sustainment and modernization efforts for our government customer. The selected candidate will manage the planning, execution, and delivery of advanced radar refurbishment, testing, and integration activities. This role is pivotal to ensuring technical excellence, cost-effective execution, and alignment with US Department of War mission readiness objectives.

The Program Deputy Director will oversee efforts across design, systems engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment planning. Responsibilities span internal team leadership, coordination with government sponsors, and collaboration with key industry partners.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead execution of projects, managing cost, schedule, performance, and risk across multiple technical domains and phases (harvesting, prototyping, test, depot planning).
• Develop and manage integrated master schedules (IMS), work breakdown structures (WBS), and program management baselines in alignment with contractual milestones.
• Coordinate technical tasking and reviews across IPTs.
• Manage government and subcontractor relationships, serving as primary interface for all programmatic matters, including milestone reviews and performance reporting.
• Ensure alignment between engineering execution and government requirements for readiness, affordability, and technical data control.
• Lead development of proposals, ROMs, and scope expansions for follow‑on phases and associated radar sustainment efforts.
• Support strategic business development by identifying opportunities to expand adjacent radar sustainment and modernization programs.
• Provide strategic thinking towards technical innovation and customer engagement.
• Maintain ongoing communication with team, suppliers, customers, and leadership.
• Ensure compliance with government program standards, data rights management, cybersecurity, and technical baseline control processes.

Essential Job Functions:

• Create and maintain program plans, cost models, and resource forecasts.
• Communicate and support internal and external resources (staff, facilities, and equipment).
• Create project milestone plans, schedules, and contract work breakdown structures as appropriate.
• Responsible for project budget, schedule, monitoring, and completion of goals and milestones in accordance with approved plans.
• Conduct recurring reviews of technical progress, financial, and risk mitigation plans.
• Oversee development of program artifacts including CONOPS, digital engineering deliverables, and sustainment documentation.
• Engage directly with government stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of issues, alignment with shipyard schedules, and program objectives.
• Coordinate across Kratos internal divisions and external OEMs to ensure seamless execution and technical continuity.
• Travel as needed to government sites, radar facilities, and Kratos integration locations (up to 25%).

Experience and Skills

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in defense programs, with at least 3 years in program or technical leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex Department of War hardware-intensive projects (e.g., radar, EW, or C5ISR systems).
• Working knowledge of government acquisition practices and sustainment planning (e.g., INCO, ILS, depot stand-up, shipyard coordination).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience supporting NSWC Crane, PEO IWS, or NAVSEA programs.
• Familiarity with Department of War radar systems.
• Knowledge of digital engineering, MBSE, or advanced manufacturing as applied to radar systems.
• PMP certification or equivalent.

#LI-ACI & #LI-Onsite

• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as aprotected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.