Program Manager (Aerospace & Defense Hardware Programs)

Intrepidus Talent Solutions; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Intrepidus Talent Solutions is seeking a seasoned Program Manager for aerospace and defense hardware programs based in Baton Rouge, LA. You will lead cross-functional teams from engineering to contracts, driving program execution from award through production readiness.

The role requires strong experience with EVM/EVMS, WBS/IMS, and DoD contracting, with travel up to 20%. You will interface with customers and suppliers to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and compliance with requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Program Management, Business, Operations, Physics or a related technical field
• 5+ years of aerospace/defense, government contracting or technical program management
• Experience managing complex hardware development programs through multiple lifecycle phases
• Working knowledge of EVM/EVMS
• Experience building and maintaining WBS and IMS
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-881 or equivalent
• Experience with critical-path scheduling, variance analysis, recovery planning, budgets, forecasts and EACs
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and test teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent program activities
• Strong understanding of government contracting and customer-facing execution
• Strong written, verbal, organizational and presentation skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling software

Responsibilities

• Lead programs from contract award through development, qualification, delivery, transition to production and closeout
• Translate SOWs, specs and contract requirements into executable program plans
• Build and maintain WBS aligned with MIL-STD-881 principles
• Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) with milestones
• Ensure traceability of requirements through to delivery and acceptance
• Apply EVMS to track cost and schedule performance
• Own budgets, forecasts, and EACs; manage variances
• Control scope, schedule, cost baselines; evaluate changes
• Execute risk and opportunity management with mitigation actions
• Coordinate resource planning across engineering, manufacturing, procurement and test
• Monitor suppliers and long-lead items; manage dependencies
• Provide clear direction to cross-functional teams and escalate issues
• Interface with customers on status, risks and deliverables
• Plan and support SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/PRR reviews; ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS/ITAR
• Support proposals, Basis of Estimate and contract negotiations
• Assist strategic planning and long-term customer relationships

Skills

EVMS

WBS & IMS

MIL-STD-881

MS Project

Program Management

Cross-functional Leadership

DoD contracting

Risk management

Customer interface

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

ERP/MRP

PLM/PDM

Job description

Program Manager (Aerospace & Defense Hardware Programs)

Baton Rouge, United States | Posted on 10/15/2026

Program Manager (Aerospace & Defense Hardware Programs)

Travel: Up to 20%

Type: Full-time

Client: Confidential aerospace and defense contractor

Intrepidus Talent Solutions is running a search for an aerospace and defense contractor that develops and produces mission-critical hardware. Our client needs an experienced Program Manager to run complex development and production programs. You’ll own execution across scope, schedule, cost, quality, technical performance, customer commitments, qualification and the move into production.

You’ll lead cross-functional teams from Engineering, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Supply Chain, Configuration Management, Finance and Contracts, and you’ll be a primary point of contact for customers and key suppliers. This is a hands-on role in a growing organization. You’ll work directly with engineering, manufacturing, customers and suppliers, and your execution will shape how the business grows.

Planning and Baselines

• Lead assigned programs from contract award through development, qualification, delivery, production transition and closeout
  
• Turn Statements of Work, specifications, contract requirements and customer deliverables into executable program plans
  
• Build and maintain product-oriented Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) consistent with MIL-STD-881 principles
  
• Build, baseline and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), including schedule logic, critical path, major dependencies, customer milestones, and procurement, test, qualification and production activities
  
• Maintain traceability of customer requirements, verification activities and contract deliverables through program completion and customer acceptance
  

Cost, Performance and Risk

• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to track cost and schedule performance and catch adverse trends early
  
• Own program budgets, labor and material forecasts, Estimates at Completion (EACs) and recovery plans for cost or schedule variances
  
• Hold disciplined control of scope, schedule, cost and technical baselines, and evaluate customer-requested changes before committing to them
  
• Run program risk and opportunity management with accountable mitigation actions
  

Teams and Suppliers

• Coordinate resource and capacity planning with functional leaders so engineering, manufacturing, procurement and test support match the program schedule
  
• Monitor critical suppliers, subcontractors, long-lead items and external dependencies that could affect program performance
  
• Give clear direction to cross-functional teams and elevate issues that need functional or executive action
  

Customers, Compliance and Growth

• Serve as a primary customer interface on program status, schedule, risks, deliverables, contract commitments and programmatic issues
  
• Plan and support major program and technical reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR and PRR as applicable
  
• Ensure contract and program execution complies with FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR export controls, customer requirements and internal quality systems
  
• Support proposal development, cost estimating, Basis of Estimate preparation and contract negotiations for new and follow-on work
  
• Support strategic planning, resource allocation and long-term customer relationships for assigned programs and business areas
  

Employment is contingent on successfully completing a background investigation, including criminal history and identity verification. All inquiries are handled confidentially. Our client is an equal opportunity employer and recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes without regard to race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, status as a protected veteran or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local law.

Requirements

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Program Management, Business, Operations, Physics or a related technical field
  
• 5+ years of relevant aerospace and defense, government contracting, engineering or technical program management experience
  
• Experience managing complex technical or hardware development programs through multiple phases of the product lifecycle
  
• Working knowledge of EVM/EVMS
  
• Experience building and maintaining WBS and IMS
  
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-881 or an equivalent product-oriented WBS method
  
• Experience with critical-path scheduling, variance analysis, recovery planning, program budgets, forecasts and EACs
  
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and test teams
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent program activities
  
• Strong understanding of government contracting and customer-facing program execution
  
• Strong written, verbal, organizational and presentation skills
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling software
  

Nice to Have

• 8+ years of aerospace and defense program management, engineering, manufacturing or technical leadership experience
  
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar A&D development or production programs
  
• Experience working with the Department of Defense, defense primes or aerospace OEMs
  
• Working knowledge of EIA-748 EVMS principles and DoD acquisition processes
  
• Experience with Firm-Fixed-Price and cost-type contracts
  
• Familiarity with military and aerospace qualification standards and formal customer design reviews
  
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, AS9100, configuration management, CDRLs/SDRLs and government contracting requirements
  
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, ERP/MRP, PLM/PDM or similar enterprise systems