Program Manager, DoD High-Energy Laser Systems (Onsite)

nLIGHT; Longmont (CO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks PTO per year

11 paid holidays

Employee stock purchase plan

Tuition assistance

Health, vision & dental coverage

Paid family leave; short and long-term

401k with company match

Job summary

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead DoD program planning, execution, and delivery. You will oversee scope, cost, schedule, performance, and customer satisfaction while ensuring compliance with DoD policies and contractual requirements.

The role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, and experience with DoD acquisition frameworks. You will support program plans, resource allocation, risk tracking, and reporting to leadership, coordinating

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing DoD programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with DoD customers and acquisition processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex programs with cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Experience with risk management and issue resolution.
• Proficiency with program management tools (MS Project, Jira, EVM tools).
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment and maintain composure under pressure.
• Documentation for formal DoD acquisition design reviews (CoDR, SRR, PDR, IBR, etc.).
• Technical presentation and report writing skills.
• Vendor management experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact with DoD customers, stakeholders, and subcontractors.
• Lead program planning, budgeting, scheduling, and performance tracking.
• Manage program teams across engineering, logistics, security, and support functions.
• Develop program documentation (e.g., Program Management Plans, risk registers, decision briefs).
• Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and EVM metrics as required.
• Prepare and present program status reports, milestones, and reviews (e.g., IPTs, PMRs).
• Identify, mitigate, and manage program risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Oversee subcontractor performance and contract modifications.
• Actively manage technical teams to ensure efficient and rapid execution of complex systems.

Skills

DoD program management

Leadership

Budget management

Schedule management

Risk management

Vendor management

Program reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related field

Master's degree (MBA, MS Systems Engineering, or related field)

Tools

MS Project

Jira

EVM tools

Job description

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead DoD program planning, execution, and delivery. You will oversee scope, cost, schedule, performance, and customer satisfaction while ensuring compliance with DoD policies and contractual requirements.

The role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, and experience with DoD acquisition frameworks. You will support program plans, resource allocation, risk tracking, and reporting to leadership, coordinating