UxS Program Manager, Defense Maritime Operations & Government Relations

Fathom Robotics; Ventura (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ICHRA health plan with $750 stipend

Job summary

Fathom Robotics is seeking a Program Manager to own the full lifecycle of select unmanned maritime system (UxS) programs, from pricing and proposal development to execution leadership. You will collaborate with prime contractors, OEMs, and government customers in both office and field environments.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field, 5+ years in defense program management, and strong proposal/pricing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field.
• 5+ years in defense or government contracting program management.
• Experience building bottom-up cost proposals for defense contracts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel ~30%, including field tests and time on the water.
• US person status required; eligible for SECRET clearance.
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of UxS programs from pricing to delivery.
• Coordinate with government customers, primes, and OEMs across office and field environments.
• Translate scope changes into documented, priced changes for execution and customer.
• Lead a cross-functional team to ensure program success.

Skills

Proposal development

Defense program management

Communication

Travel willingness

US person status

Security clearance eligibility

Cost pricing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field

Job description

About Fathom Robotics:

Fathom Robotics provides operations, maintenance, training, and applied engineering services for uncrewed maritime systems supporting U.S. Government and commercial defense programs. We have multiple active projects across a variety of government and commercial clients and are actively fielding systems in operational environments.

Role Overview:

Fathom Robotics is hiring a Program Manager to own the full lifecycle of select UxS operations and engineering programs, from pricing and writing the proposal that wins the work to leading the team that executes it. You will work across prime contractors, OEMs, and government customers in both office and field environments. If you want ownership that starts before a contract exists and carries through delivery, this is the role.

Location: Hybrid, anywhere in the United States, with preference for close proximity to Fort Worth, TX or Ventura, CA. Approximately 30% travel to customer sites, government offices, and field test locations

Work Type: Full-Time

An example day in the role:

No two days on this job look the same, but a typical stretch might include:

• Morning: check in with engineers on the shop floor to hear progress and hurdles on active projects, then align resources and UxS operator support for upcoming testing
• Midday: brief a government customer on project status and set expectations. Scope shifts constantly on these programs, and translating that shift into a documented, priced change for both the execution team and the customer is one of the most constant parts of the job
• Afternoon: travel to a government facility to meet a new customer with an urgent need, and assess whether Fathom's skills and current workload can support it
• Across all of it: take dynamic, ambiguous problems and turn them into simple, executable plans, and enjoy moving between engineers, government customers, and prospective clients over the course of a single day

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, a related technical field, or equivalent hands‑on program management experience
• 5 or more years of program or project management experience within defense or government contracting
• Demonstrated experience building bottom‑up cost proposals for government contracts, including labor rate development and pricing across firm‑fixed‑price, time‑and‑materials, and cost‑reimbursement contract types
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel approximately 30 percent of the time, including participation in field test and demonstration events with time on the water
• US person status required (defense program context)
• Must be able to pass a background check and be eligible to obtain a SECRET clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience on maritime or unmanned systems programs
• PMP certification or equivalent program management credential
• Existing relationships within the Navy or broader unmanned maritime systems community
• Active SECRET clearance

We offer a flexible ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) plan, giving employees the freedom to choose their own health coverage through an online shopping platform. Each employee receives a $750 stipend to put toward their plan, and the funds can also be used toward other eligible health expenses. This approach lets you tailor your coverage to fit your individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all option.

Compensation: Competitive salary, commensurate with experience.