Weapon Systems Program Director

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/ADD Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Plan

ESPP

Paid Time-Off

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is seeking a Program Management Director to lead a portfolio of weapon system programs in Huntsville.

You will oversee program execution, customer engagement, and contract negotiations, and build a high-performing team of program support personnel. The ideal candidate brings 12+ years in aerospace/defense program management, proven leadership of geographically dispersed teams, strong budgeting, risk management, and experience engaging senior DoD

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in engineering, science, or related technical field.
• Minimum 12 years in aerospace or defense program management, with 7+ years leading complex programs.
• Demonstrated leadership of geographically dispersed, cross-functional teams.
• Experience budgeting for complex defense programs and analyzing financial metrics.
• Experience negotiating contracts and engaging senior customers.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen with active or ability-to-obtain DoD Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of complex weapon system programs including development, integration, test, and production.
• Be primary point of contact for customer communication, coordination, and negotiations across DoD and industry stakeholders.
• Develop and manage comprehensive program plans with schedules, milestones, and resource allocations.
• Oversee program performance across cost, schedule, technical readiness, risk, and customer satisfaction.
• Build, mentor, and scale a program management team.
• Conduct strategic and technical reviews with customers, senior leadership, and internal stakeholders.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and business development.
• Participate in proposal development, cost estimating, and contract modifications.
• Provide strategic insights to leadership on customer engagement and technology roadmaps.
• Identify and manage program risks and opportunities across platforms and suppliers.
• Maintain high motivation and accountability within the team.
• Support long-term customer relationships and future opportunities in weapon systems.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Cross-functional leadership

Customer engagement

Program management

Stakeholder communication

Education

PMP certification

BS/BA in engineering or related field

Tools

DoD/Program management processes

Job description

Kratos is a leading technology, products, systems, and software company addressing critical national security missions. We deliver innovative, affordable, and highly reliable solutions to support the warfighter and meet emerging requirements across the defense landscape. Within the Weapons Systems portfolio, we design, develop, and deliver advanced weapon technologies that support both current and future operational needs.

We are seeking a Program Management Director to provide leadership, customer engagement, and oversight across a portfolio of weapon system programs. This role is accountable for program execution of key strategic efforts, direct customer communication, coordination, and contract negotiations; and building and leading a high?performing team of program support personnel. The Program Management Director serves as a senior advisor and operational partner to the Vice President of Weapons Systems, ensuring alignment between program execution, customer priorities, and company strategy.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in defense program management, exceptional communication skills, proven leadership of cross?functional and geographically dispersed teams, and strong financial and business acumen.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of complex weapon system programs, including development, integration, test, and production activities
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer communication, coordination, and negotiations across multiple DoD and industry stakeholders
• Develop and manage comprehensive program plans, including schedules, milestones, contract WBS, resource allocations, and execution strategies
• Oversee program performance across cost, schedule, technical readiness, risk, and customer satisfaction
• Build, lead, mentor, and scale a program management team responsible for key weapon system efforts
• Conduct strategic and technical reviews with customers, senior leadership, and internal stakeholders
• Drive cross?functional alignment across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and business development
• Participate in proposal development, cost estimating, and contract modification negotiations
• Provide strategic insights to the Vice President of Weapons Systems on customer engagement, technology roadmaps, and competitive positioning
• Identify and manage program risks and opportunities across platforms, technologies, suppliers, and manufacturing sites
• Exercise sound judgment, foster collaboration, and maintain a high level of team motivation and accountability
• Support long?term customer relationships and help shape future program opportunities within the weapon systems domain

Experience and Skills

Required Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in engineering, science, or a related technical discipline
• Minimum 12 years of experience in aerospace or defense program management, including at least 7 years leading complex programs
• Demonstrated leadership of geographically dispersed and cross?functional teams
• Experience developing, managing, and analyzing budgets for complex defense programs
• Experience participating in contract negotiations and customer engagement at senior levels
• Strong analytical skills and full understanding of program management processes and financial metrics
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must hold an active DoD Secret Clearance (or the ability to obtain one)

Desired Qualifications

• Direct program management experience on a large (> $100M), complex defense program with full responsibility for financial performance
• Experience managing missile, launch vehicle, or other weapon system programs
• Experience overseeing integration, test, or production activities within a weapons systems environment
• Program Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
• Experience partnering with government program offices, PEOs, or Service acquisition organizations

• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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Veteran
These classifications are defined as follows:

• A "disabled veteran" is one of the following:
  • A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
  • A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
• A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
• An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
• An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

IMPORTANT: APPLICANTS PLEASE READ
Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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