Senior Defense Program Manager - Autonomous Systems

Powerus; Rock Hill (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus in Rock Hill, SC, seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead a major defense program from contract award through engineering development, qualification, production readiness, and delivery to the customer.

You will coordinate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, flight test, finance, contracts, and subcontractors while maintaining an Integrated Master Schedule, managing budget and risks, and ensuring evidence-based gate decisions across the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, program management, business, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience in defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, or complex hardware.
• Demonstrated experience leading a hardware product from requirements to production readiness.
• Experience with lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, PRR) and phase-gate decisions.
• U.S. Person status for ITAR/EAR-controlled data access.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end program execution for a major defense contract with cost, schedule, and technical performance accountability.
• Lead from contract award through engineering development, production readiness, and customer delivery.
• Develop and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule and program governance artifacts.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, flight test, contracts, and customer teams.
• Ensure traceability from requirements to verification and acceptance with objective evidence.

Skills

Program management leadership

Systems engineering

Cross-functional coordination

Cost and schedule management

Technical risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, program management, or related field

Job description

Powerus in Rock Hill, SC, seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead a major defense program from contract award through engineering development, qualification, production readiness, and delivery to the customer.

You will coordinate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, flight test, finance, contracts, and subcontractors while maintaining an Integrated Master Schedule, managing budget and risks, and ensuring evidence-based gate decisions across the lifecycle.