Senior Program Manager

Thales Defense & Security, Inc.; Aurora (IL); Hybrid; USD 137,844 - 176,134; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan

Medical insurance

Generous 401(k) program

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave

9/80 Work Schedule

Job summary

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. in Aurora, IL, seeks a Senior Program Manager to oversee multiple programs and ensure compliance with all management processes. The role requires excellent organizational skills and the ability to collaborate across teams.

Ideal candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a related field and 4-8 years of experience in program management and engineering. An annual salary range of $137,844–$176,134 is offered, alongside a 10% incentive compensation plan.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4–8 years as a Program Manager, including experience in a hands-on engineering role.
• Excellent organizational skills and work ethic.
• Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple assigned programs ensuring compliance with all management processes.
• Provide timely reporting to senior leadership on program status.
• Lead customer communication and satisfaction.

Skills

U.S. Citizenship

Program Management

Teamwork

Communication Skills

Microsoft Project

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Senior Program Manager – Aurora, IL

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) is a U.S. company that has served domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for over 60 years. With more than 1,000 employees and four subsidiaries, TDSI supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi‑national partners with a broad portfolio of communication, visualization, signal intelligence, electronic warfare and sensor/sonar capabilities.

Top Benefits (Subject to terms of applicable policies/plans)

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program – up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
• Hybrid working environment

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple assigned programs, ensuring compliance with all Thales program management processes and procedures, including development of program plans, task definitions, schedules, budgets, program technical requirements, resource requirements and risk management for all assigned programs.
• Provide timely reporting to senior leadership with details on program status and performance.
• Conduct regular cross‑functional meetings to review status toward objectives and identify issues early in the program.
• Lead customer communication and satisfaction, including follow‑on business quotes and proposals.
• Manage technical and financial risks and lead/conduct technical reviews.
• Serve as capture lead for specific proposal efforts and support other proposal efforts with budget and schedule information.
• Coordinate activities with subcontractors, vendors and suppliers as necessary to support assigned programs.
• Process Thales scope directions from the customer and suppliers through the contract appropriately.
• Coordinate and foster proper communication between the customer and the program team.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required; applicants may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a related technical field.
• Minimum 4–8 years as a Program Manager, including prior experience in a hands‑on engineering role (software, electrical, mechanical, systems, etc.).
• Basic accounting and financial knowledge with profit‑oriented business sense and effective negotiating skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and work ethic.
• Ability to work in a team environment and interact with employees in all departments and functions.
• Computer proficiency required and experience with Microsoft Project or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience managing small teams and working effectively in a matrix team structure, setting business growth objectives and achieving results.
• Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• US government/DOD contracting experience; understanding of required processes for reporting through major defense contractors highly preferred.
• Commercial avionics industry background.
• Experience working cross‑functionally and familiarity of full product lifecycle for complex systems.
• Experience with avionics modification programs for either fixed and/or rotary wing.
• EVMS experience.
• PMP certification.
• Conversational fluency in French or Korean.

Salary & Compensation

The annualized pay range for this role is $137,844–$176,134 along with a target incentive compensation plan of 10%.

EEO Statement

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non‑discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E‑Verify Employer.

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 202‑961‑1016.