Strategic Subcontracts Manager – Space & Defense

Karman Space & Defense; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account (HSA) with会社贡献

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company‑paid life and AD & D insurance

Short‑and long‑term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in rapid design, development, and production of critical system solutions that support national security and space programs. The Subcontracts Manager will build and manage supplier relationships, oversee performance, and ensure contractual obligations are met to support program requirements and risk mitigation.

Collaborating with contracts, engineering, quality, and operations, you will advance sourcing strategies and supplier alignment while navigating

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of subcontracts administration experience.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS clauses.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (Outlook/Teams).
• U.S. person status under export control laws.

Responsibilities

• Establishes strong business relationships with key suppliers and maintains clear communication channels.
• Identifies opportunities for strategic collaboration that benefit both organizations.
• Develops a detailed understanding of supplier operations, capabilities, and strategic priorities.
• Assesses supplier capacity to support informed risk‑management decisions and consolidates the supplier base when appropriate.
• Negotiates cost and schedule commitments to meet program requirements and manages subcontract performance.
• Partners with quality engineering to incorporate necessary contractual flow‑downs.
• Prioritizes and adjusts supplier work to align with evolving organizational needs.
• Applies knowledge of FAR, DFARS, customer‑specific clauses, and organizational terms and conditions.
• Collaborates with contracts, engineering, quality, and operations teams to support program objectives, reporting requirements, and small business plans.
• Communicates effectively across departments and personnel levels.

Skills

Subcontracts experience

FAR/DFARS knowledge

U.S. person status

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams)

Word/Excel/PowerPoint

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in rapid design, development, and production of critical system solutions that support national security and space programs. The Subcontracts Manager will build and manage supplier relationships, oversee performance, and ensure contractual obligations are met to support program requirements and risk mitigation.

Collaborating with contracts, engineering, quality, and operations, you will advance sourcing strategies and supplier alignment while navigating