Program Manager - ERAM/FAA

Actalent; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent seeks an experienced Program Manager – Automation to lead the delivery of safety-critical aviation and defense programs, with FAA and related government contracts. You will own the full lifecycle from capture to customer acceptance, coordinating cross-functional teams in a regulated, mission-critical environment.

You will manage IMS, SOWs, WBS, BOE, and risk plans, ensure FAR/DFARS compliance, and interface with FAA stakeholders. Domestic and international travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in a relevant field and 10+ years in aerospace/defense program management.
• Experience delivering mission-critical programs for U.S. government customers is required.
• Strong knowledge of PM principles, change control, and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead capture and proposal development for FAA and defense‑related RFPs/RFQs in full FAR/DFARS compliance.
• Develop compliant, competitive proposals that meet technical, regulatory, and certification requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with subcontractors per federal procurement standards.
• Create and maintain SOWs, WBS, IMS, BOE, and resource plans.
• Conduct formal risk analyses to support capture decisions and planning.
• Manage end‑to‑end execution across hardware, software, and integrated automation solutions.
• Maintain IMS alignment and oversee schedule integration across functions.
• Drive program governance with milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR).
• Interface with FAA program offices and government stakeholders; report with data‑driven updates.
• Ensure compliance with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and security requirements.
• Monitor KPIs and EVM; manage budgets, forecasts, and EACs.

Skills

Program management

Aviation industry

Defense programs

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Earned Value Management

DoD/FAR knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Program Management, or related discipline

Tools

ERP systems

Program analytics tools

Job description

Job Description

The Program Manager – Automation is responsible for leading the successful delivery of complex, safety‑critical aviation and defense programs, with a primary focus on contracts that support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and related government agencies. This role owns the full program lifecycle from capture and proposal development through system delivery, certification, and final customer acceptance. The Program Manager is accountable for program performance across scope, schedule, cost, compliance, and risk, serving as the primary interface with government stakeholders and leading cross‑functional teams in a highly regulated, mission‑critical environment.

Job Title: Program Manager - Automation

The Program Manager – Automation is responsible for leading the successful delivery of complex, safety‑critical aviation and defense programs, with a primary focus on contracts that support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and related government agencies. This role owns the full program lifecycle from capture and proposal development through system delivery, certification, and final customer acceptance. The Program Manager is accountable for program performance across scope, schedule, cost, compliance, and risk, serving as the primary interface with government stakeholders and leading cross‑functional teams in a highly regulated, mission‑critical environment.

Job Description

The Program Manager – Automation is responsible for leading the successful delivery of complex, safety‑critical aviation and defense programs, with a primary focus on contracts that support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and related government agencies. This role owns the full program lifecycle from capture and proposal development through system delivery, certification, and final customer acceptance. The Program Manager is accountable for program performance across scope, schedule, cost, compliance, and risk, serving as the primary interface with government stakeholders and leading cross‑functional teams in a highly regulated, mission‑critical environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead program capture and proposal development for FAA and defense‑related RFPs/RFQs in full compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR/DFARS).
• Develop compliant, competitive proposals that align with technical, regulatory, and certification requirements for air traffic management, communications, surveillance, or navigation systems.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with subcontractors in accordance with federal procurement standards, ensuring alignment with program objectives and compliance requirements.
• Create and maintain comprehensive program plans, including Statements of Work (SOW), Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), Basis of Estimates (BOE), and resource plans.
• Conduct formal risk and opportunity analyses to support capture decisions and program planning.
• Lead end‑to‑end execution of FAA and defense programs, ensuring adherence to contractual, technical, and regulatory requirements throughout the lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain robust program governance, including organizing and conducting milestone reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR.
• Manage the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and drive schedule alignment across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and other stakeholders.
• Direct cross‑functional teams delivering safety‑critical systems, including hardware, software, and integrated automation solutions.
• Oversee subcontractor performance to ensure compliance with cost, schedule, quality, and federal requirements.
• Manage installation, integration, testing, and commissioning activities at customer sites, including coordination with FAA facilities and field service teams.
• Drive program closeout activities, including documentation completion, certification support, and final government acceptance.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with FAA regulatory frameworks and applicable aviation and defense standards throughout program execution.
• Support system certification and approval processes, including planning, documentation, testing, validation, and audit readiness activities.
• Maintain readiness for government reviews and regulatory inspections, ensuring documentation and processes meet audit standards.
• Ensure compliance with export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) and applicable security requirements.
• Establish and manage formal risk and opportunity management processes, including maintaining risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Lead change control processes in alignment with contractual requirements, including developing and managing engineering change proposals (ECPs).
• Monitor program performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) and Earned Value Management (EVM) as required.
• Proactively identify, analyze, and resolve program issues, escalating to leadership and government stakeholders when appropriate.
• Own program financial performance, including revenue, margin, and cash flow, and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Develop and manage program budgets, forecasts, and Estimates at Completion (EAC), and perform cost and schedule variance analysis.
• Implement corrective actions based on variance analysis to maintain or recover program performance.
• Ensure compliance with government cost accounting standards and contractual financial requirements.
• Approve and manage subcontractor and vendor expenditures in line with program budgets and procurement policies.
• Serve as the primary interface with FAA program offices, contracting officers, and technical representatives.
• Lead program reviews, including Program Management Reviews (PMR) and customer status briefings, providing clear, data‑driven updates.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders, fostering transparency, trust, and effective collaboration.
• Align internal stakeholders and resolve cross‑functional challenges to maintain program execution momentum.
• Lead and influence cross‑functional, matrixed teams across engineering, manufacturing supply chain, quality, and field services.
• Drive accountability, performance, and collaboration across all program stakeholders.
• Mentor and develop team members, promoting a culture of excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Program Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience managing complex aerospace, aviation, defense, or government technology programs.
• Demonstrated success delivering large‑scale, mission‑critical programs for U.S. government customers.
• Experience managing software‑intensive systems, automation platforms, or complex system integration programs.
• Proven ability to develop and manage Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), budgets, forecasts, risk management plans, and program execution strategies.
• Strong knowledge of program management principles, including change control, performance measurement, and financial management.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams in highly technical, matrixed environments.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present to and influence executive‑level and government stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building capabilities with internal and external partners.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.
• U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting FAA Air Traffic Management (ATM) or National Airspace System programs.
• Experience with FAA automation systems such as ERAM, STARS, TFMS, or related modernization programs.
• Experience in air traffic control automation, decision support systems, or mission‑critical operational platforms.
• Familiarity with FAA acquisition processes and government contracting practices.
• Knowledge of aviation standards including DO‑178C, DO‑254, DO‑278A, or related standards.
• Experience with cybersecurity requirements for government systems and secure architectures.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience working with ERP systems, program analytics tools, and executive reporting dashboards.
• Active or prior U.S. security clearance.
• Experience with FAA, ERAM, STARS, and other automation‑related technologies.

Work Environment

This role is primarily on‑site at multiple locations, including facilities in Washington, DC and New Jersey, with additional travel to customer and program sites as needed. The work environment is highly technical and mission‑critical, centered on aviation and defense automation programs that support the FAA and other government agencies. You will collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and field services teams, as well as government stakeholders and subcontractors. The organization is in a strong growth phase, having recently secured a significant government contract and invested in a new manufacturing facility in Olathe, creating opportunities to shape programs and influence future capabilities. The position involves working with advanced automation platforms, air traffic management systems, and integrated hardware and software solutions in a structured, compliance‑driven setting, with standard professional office and lab attire appropriate to customer‑facing and regulatory environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Washington D.C., DC.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $200000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Washington D.C.,DC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 24, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.