Program Manager - Defense & Mission Systems

Gonzalez Contract Services; Pontiac (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gonzalez Contract Services team is seeking an experienced Program Manager - Defense & Mission Systems to lead complex customer programs from award to closeout. You will own program performance, budget, schedule, risk, and cross-functional coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality.

You will interface with customers, manage change, ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and AS9100, and mentor teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, project management, or related field required or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of program or project management experience; 10+ years preferred in defense, aerospace, automation, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience with DoD/DFARS, FAR/DFARS contracting environments.
• Knowledge of AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full program lifecycle from contract award through customer acceptance and project closeout.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, building trusted relationships and leading program reviews, executive meetings, and technical discussions.
• Own program financial performance including revenue, gross margin, forecasting, cost-to-complete, cash flow, and approved change management.
• Develop and maintain integrated program schedules, budgets, manpower plans, procurement strategies, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Controls Engineering, Quality, Field Service, Installation, and Operations to meet program objectives.
• Manage contract requirements, statements of work, technical deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, and customer-directed changes.
• Develop and maintain program risk registers and mitigation plans addressing technical, schedule, supplier, commercial, quality, and customer risks.
• Monitor supplier performance, long-lead materials, and critical procurement activities.
• Lead executive program reviews and provide KPI, schedule, financial, and risk reporting.
• Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, FAT, SAT, first article activities, and customer acceptance events.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and customer-specific requirements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Travel willingness

Customer relationship

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline

PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Acumatica

Epicor

Oracle ERP

Job description

Position Summary:

The Program Manager - Defense & Mission Systems is responsible for the successful execution and overall performance of strategic customer programs from contract award through final customer acceptance and project closeout. Serving as the primary customer interface, this role has full accountability for program execution, financial performance, schedule, quality, risk management, and cross-functional leadership while ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements. The Program Manager leads integrated teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Controls Engineering, Field Service, and Operations to deliver complex defense, aerospace, automation, and mission-critical manufacturing solutions supporting national security and advanced technology programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage the full program lifecycle from contract award through customer acceptance and project closeout.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, building trusted relationships and leading program reviews, executive meetings, and technical discussions.
• Lead transition from Sales/Estimating to Program Execution to ensure complete contract understanding and a successful kickoff.
• Own program financial performance including revenue, gross margin, forecasting, cost-to-complete, cash flow, and approved change management.
• Develop and maintain integrated program schedules, budgets, manpower plans, procurement strategies, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Controls Engineering, Quality, Field Service, Installation, and Operations to meet program objectives.
• Manage contract requirements, statements of work, technical deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, and customer-directed changes.
• Develop and maintain program risk registers and mitigation plans addressing technical, schedule, supplier, commercial, quality, and customer risks.
• Monitor supplier performance, long-lead materials, and critical procurement activities.
• Lead executive program reviews and provide KPI, schedule, financial, and risk reporting.
• Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, FAT, SAT, first article activities, and customer acceptance events.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and customer-specific requirements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with equivalent knowledge, skills, technical training, military service, certifications, and directly applicable experience are encouraged to apply.
• 7+ years of program or project management experience required; 10+ years preferred in defense, aerospace, automation, or advanced manufacturing.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Experience managing complex DoD/DoW, aerospace, or high‑complexity manufacturing programs.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS contracting environments and government flow‑down requirements.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, NIST SP 800‑171, and CMMC.
• Experience with AGVs, AMRs, robotics, MES, SCADA, industrial automation, or factory integration preferred.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Accumatica, Epicor, Oracle, or similar.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent scheduling tools.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, customer relationship, and organizational skills.
• PMP certification preferred.
• DoD/DoW and/or Prime Contractor program experience preferred.
• Former military service preferred (active duty, reserve, guard, or civilian support).
• Willingness to travel domestically to customer, supplier, and company facilities as required to support program execution; anticipated travel is minimal.

Success Metrics:

• Programs delivered on schedule and within budget.
• Programs achieve or exceed gross margin objectives.
• High customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Accurate forecasting and proactive risk management.
• Successful customer acceptance and compliant program execution.

Authority:

• Acts as the primary decision‑maker for day‑to‑day program execution.
• Coordinates resources across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.
• Recommends staffing adjustments, recovery plans, and contract modifications to executive leadership.
• Escalates significant technical, commercial, schedule, or compliance risks as appropriate.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to access office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, crouch, and inspect equipment and processes.
• Ability to wear required PPE.
• Ability to lift and carry light office‑related items.