Program Manager- Defense

Wolfspeed; North Carolina; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolfspeed, a leading provider in silicon carbide technology, is seeking a seasoned Program Manager to own and accelerate delivery with defense contractor partners. You will manage end-to-end programs, maintain IMS schedules, and drive accountability across prime and sub-tier contractors.

The role requires 7+ years in program management within a defense context, strong negotiation and communication skills, and an active U.S. Secret clearance or ability to obtain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of program management experience, with at least 5 years inside a defense contractor (prime or significant sub-tier).
• Deep understanding of how defense prime contractors operate — their internal processes, incentives, culture, and decision-making structures
• Demonstrated track record of driving results and holding teams/partners accountable in a contractor environment
• Strong negotiation, communication, and influencing skills — comfortable pushing back on large organizations professionally and effectively
• Experience managing Integrated Master Schedules and multi-milestone program plans
• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance (or ability to obtain)

Responsibilities

• Serve as Wolfspeed’s primary point of contact with defense prime and sub-tier contractor program teams
• Hold contractors accountable to committed schedules, technical deliverables, and quality standards
• Proactively identify and elevate risks, delays, or gaps in contractor performance before they impact program outcomes
• Drive resolution of technical, contractual, and schedule issues across contractor organizations
• Manage program execution end-to-end — from contract award through delivery and acceptance
• Maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and track milestones across multiple concurrent contractor-driven programs
• Lead regular program reviews, status calls, and action item tracking with contractor teams
• Coordinate with Wolfspeed’s engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal readiness supports contractor demand
• Build deep, trusted working relationships with defense contractor program managers, engineering leads, and procurement teams
• Leverage knowledge of how prime contractors operate internally to navigate their processes efficiently and advocate for Wolfspeed’s priorities
• Represent Wolfspeed professionally and credibly in environments where the other side of the table is a large, experienced defense organization
• Identify expansion opportunities within existing contractor relationships and feed them to business development
• Support proposal and pricing efforts for follow-on programs with current defense contractor customers

Skills

Program management

Defense contractor experience

Negotiation

Communication

Influencing skills

Integrated Master Schedules

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field

Job description

At Wolfspeed, we do amazing things in a human way.

We know that the achievements of our organization are due to the passion, hard work and creativity of our employees. We celebrate different perspectives to foster excellence across our organization, and our goal is to make diversity a foundation of what we do. We are proudly building an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work.

• Enjoy doing things that people say can’t be done? Innovation is at the center of everything we do.

• Hate red tape? We remove roadblocks instead of creating them.

• Working parent? We provide childcare assistance and paid parental leave.

• Student? We offer continuing education assistance.

• Looking for community? There are many ways to get involved, from Employee Resource Groups to local outreach

The Day-to-Day:

Wolfspeed is seeking a results-driven Program Manager to own and accelerate program delivery through Wolfspeed’s defense contractor partners. Working alongside an existing team that manages U.S. government program office relationships, this role is squarely focused on driving performance, accountability, and outcomes with prime defense contractors. The ideal candidate has worked inside a defense contractor, understands how these organizations operate, and knows how to cut through complexity to get things done.

Key Responsibilities

Contractor Performance & Accountability

• Serve as Wolfspeed’s primary point of contact with defense prime and sub-tier contractor program teams

• Hold contractors accountable to committed schedules, technical deliverables, and quality standards

• Proactively identify and elevate risks, delays, or gaps in contractor performance before they impact program outcomes

• Drive resolution of technical, contractual, and schedule issues across contractor organizations

Program Execution

• Manage program execution end-to-end — from contract award through delivery and acceptance — with a relentless focus on results

• Maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and track milestones across multiple concurrent contractor-driven programs

• Lead regular program reviews, status calls, and action item tracking with contractor teams

• Coordinate with Wolfspeed’s engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal readiness supports contractor demand

Relationship Management

• Build deep, trusted working relationships with defense contractor program managers, engineering leads, and procurement teams

• Leverage knowledge of how prime contractors operate internally to navigate their processes efficiently and advocate for Wolfspeed’s priorities

• Represent Wolfspeed professionally and credibly in environments where the other side of the table is a large, experienced defense organization

Business Development Support

• Identify expansion opportunities within existing contractor relationships and feed them to business development

• Support proposal and pricing efforts for follow-on programs with current defense contractor customers

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field

• 7+ years of program management experience, with at least 5 years inside a defense contractor (prime or significant sub-tier)

• Deep understanding of how defense prime contractors operate — their internal processes, incentives, culture, and decision-making structures

• Demonstrated track record of driving results and holding teams/partners accountable in a contractor environment

• Strong negotiation, communication, and influencing skills — comfortable pushing back on large organizations professionally and effectively

• Experience managing Integrated Master Schedules and multi-milestone program plans

• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance (or ability to obtain)

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior employment at a recognized defense prime

• Experience on programs involving one or more of the following defense application areas:

• Power electronics (high-voltage, high-frequency power conversion and management)

• Directed energy (high-power lasers or high-power microwave systems)

• Radar systems (airborne, ground-based, or naval radar platforms)

• Naval electrification (shipboard power distribution, electric propulsion, or energy storage systems)

• Electronic warfare (EW systems, signal intelligence, or RF subsystems)

• Familiarity with DFARS, FAR, and defense contract types (FFP, CPFF, T&M)

• Experience with ITAR and export-controlled program environments

What Sets This Role Apart

You’ll work with the most sophisticated defense organizations in the world — and you’ll need to earn their respect while pushing them for results. Wolfspeed’s Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology is a critical enabler for next-generation defense platforms, and this role puts you at the center of translating that technology into fielded capability across directed energy, radar, naval electrification, and electronic warfare programs.

This role may require additional duties and/or assignments as designated by management.

Equal Opportunity

To put it legally - Wolfspeed is an equal opportunity employer.

We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation and other protected status as required by law.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.