Software Program Manager — Defense Programs (Hybrid)

Swarm Aero; Oxnard (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health insurance

PTO

Wellness stipend

Lunch provided

Parental leave

401k

Career growth

Job summary

Swarm Aero seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead a software-heavy defense program, coordinating with engineering, product, and forward-deployed teams. You will own cost, schedule, scope, and risk, ensuring milestones, demos, and customer events are met with clarity and accountability.

You will interact with customers, engineers, and program officers to translate requirements into actionable backlogs, manage changes, and deliver contract deliverables while driving efficiency and reducing

Qualifications

• 6+ years of program management, with at least 3 years owning software or software-intensive DoD/government programs.
• Fluency in agile delivery and mapping to milestone-based defense contracts.
• Deep enough technical context to follow architecture discussions, challenge estimates, and spot integration risk early; software background is a plus.
• Experience delivering software that integrates with hardware: autonomy, C2, mission systems, avionics, or similar.
• Hands-on with schedule/backlog tools (Jira, Smartsheet, MS Project) and with budget tracking.
• Clear, direct communicator capable of briefing engineers and program officers alike.
• U.S. person status and ability to obtain/maintain U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own the program plan and integrated schedule, linking sprint and release plans to contract milestones and customer events.
• Translate customer requirements into a prioritized backlog and manage scope against cost and schedule.
• Run the program cadence: release planning, weekly reviews, risk boards, and monthly leadership/status updates.
• Manage budget and burn across multiple engineering teams with early variance flags and recovery plans.
• Coordinate software integration with aircraft, partner hardware, and government systems, including test events.
• Drive software delivery and accreditation work with DevSecOps: deliverables, documentation, cyber and ATO requirements.
• Lead customer-facing milestone reviews and own contract deliverables (CDRLs, status reports, technical data).
• Partner with PMO to build practical, streamlined program practices for software teams.

Skills

Program management

Agile delivery

Software integration

DoD contracting

Jira

Budget tracking

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Swarm Aero seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead a software-heavy defense program, coordinating with engineering, product, and forward-deployed teams. You will own cost, schedule, scope, and risk, ensuring milestones, demos, and customer events are met with clarity and accountability.

You will interact with customers, engineers, and program officers to translate requirements into actionable backlogs, manage changes, and deliver contract deliverables while driving efficiency and reducing