Program Manager Aircraft Integrations

Socket.dev; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical plan options

HSA/FSA accounts

Dental and vision coverage

6% employer 401(k) match

Fully paid parental leave

Generous PTO

Life and disability insurance

AD&D Coverage

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Subsidized gym membership / plans

Job summary

Metrea is seeking a senior program manager to lead ISR aircraft modification and capability delivery across multiple projects. You will provide program-level leadership to Integration Project Managers, ensuring alignment of cost, schedule, and technical performance while translating ISR mission needs into executable plans.

You will collaborate with engineering, production, certification, and operations to deliver on-time, on-budget capabilities for national security partners, with significant

Qualifications

• 8+ years of ISR, special mission aircraft, or aerospace integration experience.
• Experience leading multi-project programs and managing project managers.
• Background in aircraft modification and mission system integration.
• Proven delivery of programs to cost, schedule, and performance targets.
• Experience managing budgets and forecasting.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically.
• Experience with ISR sensors, communications systems, or data architectures.
• Familiarity with certification processes (e.g., Part 21).
• Experience in defense or government environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage ISR aircraft modification and integration programs across multiple projects.
• Directly oversee and mentor Integration Project Managers, ensuring consistent standards and delivery outcomes.
• Own program-level cost, schedule, and performance, including forecasting, reporting, and risk management.
• Translate customer ISR mission requirements into executable program plans.
• Coordinate across engineering, production, certification, and operations.
• Manage program interfaces with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Drive integration of mission systems, sensors, and communications capabilities.
• Improve program management processes and governance.
• Oversee supplier and subcontractor performance.
• Lead program reviews and senior stakeholder reporting.

Skills

ISR experience

Multi-project leadership

Aircraft modification

Delivery against targets

Budgeting & forecasting

Stakeholder management

Strategic & tactical

ISR sensors/communications

Certification familiarity

Defense/government experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

PMP or equivalent

Microsoft Project certification

Tools

Microsoft Project

AS9100

Microsoft 365

MS Excel

Job description

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Position Summary

In this role, you will lead and integrate ISR aircraft modification and capability delivery programs across multiple projects, teams, and stakeholders. You will provide program-level leadership to Integration Project Managers, ensuring aligned execution across cost, schedule, and technical performance while maintaining a clear focus on operational effect. You will be successful if you can translate ISR mission needs into executable programs, drive disciplined delivery across a portfolio of aircraft integrations, and consistently deliver capability to customers on time, quality, and budget.

What You'll Do

• Lead and manage ISR aircraft modification and integration programs across multiple concurrent projects.
• Directly oversee and mentor Integration Project Managers, ensuring consistent standards and delivery outcomes.
• Own program-level cost, schedule, and performance, including forecasting, reporting, and risk management.
• Translate customer ISR mission requirements into executable program plans.
• Coordinate across engineering, production, certification, and operations.
• Manage program interfaces with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Drive integration of mission systems, sensors, and communications capabilities.
• Improve program management processes and governance.
• Oversee supplier and subcontractor performance.
• Lead program reviews and senior stakeholder reporting.

What You Bring

• 8+ years of experience in ISR, special mission aircraft, or aerospace integration.
• Experience leading multi-project programs and managing project managers.
• Background in aircraft modification and mission system integration.
• Proven delivery of programs to cost, schedule, and performance targets.
• Experience managing budgets and forecasting.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically.
• Experience with ISR sensors, communications systems, or data architectures.
• Familiarity with certification processes (e.g., Part 21).
• Experience in defense or government environments.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aviation Management, Project Management, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field.
• PMP or equivalent
• Microsoft Project certifications
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, project management principles, quality management systems (e.g., AS9100), and safety protocols.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Valid Driver's License.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical plan options
• HSA/FSA accounts
• Dental and vision coverage
• 6% employer 401(k) match
• Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
• Generous PTO
• Life and disability insuranceLong-term and Short-term disability coverage
• AD&D Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Subsided gym membership / plans throughWellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be a US citizen.Clearance required at time of hire: Active Confidential / Secret clearance required at time of hire, and the ability to maintain it throughout employment.
• Eligible clearance required: This position requires eligibility to obtain a Top Secret clearance. Candidates will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with federal requirements.
• Position may require passing a government-administered background check.
• Role may require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).
• Employment is contingent on meeting all clearance and adjudication requirements.

AAP/EEO Statement

Legal Entity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time non-exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs.

Work Environment

This job operates in an office setting.

Travel

There may be significant CONUS travel requirements (40-50%).

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.

Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.