Program Director, Missiles

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense; Simsbury (CT); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Competitive base salary

Job summary

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) seeks an experienced Program Director to lead strategic programs within our Missiles Segment. You will own customer relationships and program execution, drive delivery performance, and ensure commercial success.

The ideal candidate has deep leadership experience, a track record managing complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, or energetics programs, and the ability to balance customer needs with business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Proven experience as a Program Director or senior program leader in aerospace, defense, or space industries.
• Demonstrated success managing complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, or energetics programs.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance customer needs and business outcomes.
• Experience leading customer-facing programs with high visibility and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end program performance, including cost, schedule, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex aerospace and space programs successfully.
• Drive program execution discipline, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with business leaders to support growth, profitability, and strategic objectives.
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations and internal execution capabilities.

Skills

Program leadership

Aerospace industry experience

Stakeholder management

Customer interface

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you!

Job Description At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you!

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Program Director to lead strategic programs within our Missiles Segment business. This individual will own both customer relationships and program execution, ensuring exceptional delivery performance while driving commercial success. The ideal candidate brings deep experience, strong leadership capability, and a track record of managing complex, high-stakes programs with discipline and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end program performance, including cost, schedule, quality, and customer satisfaction
• Serve as the primary customer interface, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex aerospace and space programs successfully
• Drive program execution discipline, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner with business leaders to support growth, profitability, and strategic objectives
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations and internal execution capabilities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Proven experience as a Program Director or senior program leader in aerospace, defense, or space industries
• Demonstrated success managing complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, or energetics programs
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance customer needs and business outcomes
• Experience leading customer-facing programs with high visibility and accountability
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Compensation and Rewards

• Base Salary: $225,000- $275,000
• Relocation: Comprehensive support for a seamless transition

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), headquartered in Simsbury, CT with facilities in Moorpark, CA, and Graham, KY is a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions. Our capabilities include customized man-portable breaching systems; fully integrated payload system, subsystem or energetic component production; shock tube-based, signal transmission technology integrated with our highly reliable family of detonators; and armored vehicle solutions. EBAD also has extensive satellite/spacecraft and missile/aircraft/launch vehicle manufacturing capabilities for system initiation, signal transfer, separation release, actuation and deployment and flight termination. No matter what the mission, EBAD can provide tailored, customized solutions to address our customers' challenges.

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.