Senior Program Manager

Jobtailor; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Miltope is seeking a Senior Program Manager to own delivery outcomes for complex defense/aerospace programs. This leadership role partners with the VP Government and Commercial Programs to drive cost, schedule, and technical performance, while strengthening customer relationships and guiding capture efforts.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in defense program management, deep understanding of FAR/DFARS, and a proven track record in government contracting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of program management in defense/aerospace.
• Proven track record managing complex government contracts.
• Ability to obtain/maintain a US security clearance.
• Extensive experience with FAR, DFARS, and government contracting regulations.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills.
• AS9100 Rev D knowledge and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Own delivery outcomes for complex programs with cost, schedule, and technical performance accountability.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams from proposal through contract award, development, production, and sustainment.
• Deliver programs to contractual commitments with ≥95% on-time performance.
• Establish IMS governance and conduct phase-gate reviews (PDR/CDR/PRR/FSAs).
• Maintain EVMS artifacts and report earned value; manage baselines and forecasts.
• Coordinate proposals, pricing strategies, and contract negotiations with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with BD to support capture plans and competitive proposals.
• Interface with Prime customers and vendors to shape requirements and delivery terms.

Skills

Program Management

Risk Management

Negotiation

Leadership

Customer Interface

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Integrated Master Schedule

ERP Systems

MS Office

Engineering Software

Job description

• You will report directly to the VP Government and Commercial Programs
• This position shares financial responsibility (Revenue and P&L) with the VP Government and Commercial Programs by assisting to develop annual business plans, compiling financial forecast, conducting margin analysis, creating business reviews for price list and proposals, as well as interacting daily with customers and Business Development to lead new product development, contract negotiations, and an internal team to successfully execute company operational plans
• The Senior Program Manager (SPM) is a mission-critical leader who owns delivery outcomes for complex, multi-disciplinary programs driving cost/schedule/technical performance, strengthening customer relationships, and partnering with Business Development to grow the portfolio
• Deliver programs to contractual commitments with ≥95% on-time performance for DPAS and other priority orders
• Achieve cost variance within ±3% of baseline EAC and maintain accurate monthly forecasts
• Stand up disciplined risk/opportunity management with quantified mitigation plans; maintain risk burn-down trajectory
• Establish and lead integrated master schedule (IMS) governance and phase-gate reviews (PDR/CDR/PRR/FCA/DCA as applicable)
• Reduce change-cycle time by improving configuration control and supplier responsiveness
• Strengthen customer satisfaction (measured via formal reviews/action-item closure rate and survey feedback)
• Support capture with at least two material wins (proposal leadership, pricing strategy, and negotiations)
• Lead multi-functional teams from proposal through contract award, development, production, and sustainment
• Own cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk; maintain EVMS artifacts and report earned value
• Run regular IPTs, management reviews, and customer status meetings; drive decision-making and accountability
• Build and manage baselines, EACs, and monthly forecasts; partner with Finance on margin protection
• Coordinate proposals, RFQ responses, pricing strategies, and TINA-compliant submissions; support DCMA/DCAA
• Navigate contract types (FFP/CPFF/T&M), modifications (ECP/CCP), and compliance with FAR/DFARS
• Serve as primary customer interface; shape requirements and negotiate scope, price, and delivery terms
• Collaborate with BD to develop capture plans, value propositions, and competitive proposals
• Represent Miltope at reviews and industry engagements; open doors and deepen relationships with primes and key suppliers
• Partner with Engineering on development plans, qualification/verification, and production readiness
• Coordinate with Supply Chain on make/buy, obsolescence mitigation, and long-lead procurement
• Ensure robust configuration management, change control, and quality (AS9100/ISO 9001 environment)
• Maintain IMS/IMP governance, risk registers, and action trackers; publish clear, concise status reports
• Drive continuous improvement across schedule fidelity, lead times, and cost control

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of program management in the defense and/or aerospace industry
• Proven track record managing complex government contracts and understanding public procurement frameworks
• Strong background in program management and the technical design-to-production lifecycle
• Ability to obtain/maintain a US security clearance
• Extensive experience working within the Department of War (DoW) environment, including a strong understanding of FAR, DFARS, and other government contracting regulations
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks; excellent time management skills
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to interface with project team and external vendors and be able to accurately document, report and present
• A drive for results in a teambuilding environment
• Ability to research solutions and apply advanced planning tools and techniques to resolve business challenges
• Strong problem solving and negotiation skills to ensure accountability of supply base is maintained
• Ability to organize, schedule, budget and coordinate work phases
• A clear understanding of relevant quality standards including AS9100 Rev D
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint); proficient experience using internal ERP systems, use of all engineering software and related applications

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in program management within the defense and aerospace sectors, focusing on contract negotiation, risk management, and compliance with government regulations. Proven ability to lead multi-functional teams, manage complex projects, and deliver results while maintaining high customer satisfaction.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Program Management
• Government Contracting
• Risk Management
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Proposal Development

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Financial Forecasting
• Margin Analysis
• Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
• Configuration Management
• Quality Standards (AS9100/ISO 9001)
• Contract Types (FFP/CPFF/T&M)
• Public Procurement Frameworks
• Technical Design-to-Production Lifecycle
• Change Control
• Supplier Management

Soft Skills

• Interpersonal Communication
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Negotiation
• Team Building

Certifications & Qualifications

• US Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

• Defense Industry
• Aerospace Industry
• FAR
• DFARS
• Department of War (DoW)

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• ERP Systems
• Engineering Software