Program Manager - Defense Contracts

Job Purpose

The Program Manager, Defense Contracts is responsible for leading Hyliion’s government and defense programs from opportunity review and proposal development through contract execution and customer delivery. The role coordinates engineering, operations, finance, business development, supply chain, and external partners to turn customer requirements into executable plans and keep scope, schedule, cost, risks, and deliverables on track. The position serves as the primary customer interface for assigned programs, including government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact. The role also leads the preparation of government proposals, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals, Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), and white papers. The position supports contract administration, reporting, and government compliance activities required by each program.

AI at Hyliion

At Hyliion, AI is core to how we work. We equip every team member with leading AI tools and count on you to use them — to move faster, solve harder problems, and help us realize the full potential of KARNO technology for the world.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional planning and execution of government and military programs, coordinating internal teams, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Review solicitations, contracts, statements of work, specifications, and customer commitments, and translate them into a requirements and deliverables matrix, work plans, schedules, owners, and acceptance criteria.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules, such as Gantt charts, and track milestones, dependencies, decisions, risks, issues, and corrective actions. Identify schedule or delivery concerns early and develop recovery plans.
• Coordinate technical and operational work to keep requirements and specifications aligned with system designs and customer expectations. Track hardware, software, and system deliverables through prototype and production schedules.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for assigned programs, managing day-to-day communication with government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact, and ensuring customer priorities are reflected in program execution.
• Lead regular internal and customer program reviews. Prepare status materials covering technical progress, schedule, deliverables, risks, and spending, and provide weekly health updates and monthly reports as required.
• Develop program spend forecasts and track actual costs, commitments, and variances with Finance. Ensure program financial information meets customer reporting requirements.
• Work directly with customers, Tier 1 suppliers, and external stakeholders to resolve delivery issues, remove roadblocks, and maintain progress against commitments.
• Participate in the review of government contracting opportunities and coordinate proposal planning, schedules, and required inputs.
• Lead the writing, editing, coordination, and submission of proposals and other responses, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals, Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), white papers, and related government requests.
• Coordinate technical, programmatic, cost, schedule, and compliance contributions from internal teams and partners, and ensure submissions address solicitation requirements and meet deadlines.
• Maintain contract requirement matrices, supporting records, and audit trails, and track reporting and other contract obligations through completion.
• Coordinate DCAA audit activities, including preparing representatives for process reviews, documenting findings or deficiencies, tracking corrective actions, and reporting progress.
• Manage required PIEE workflows, including WAWF and the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS), and maintain SAM.gov account administration and annual representations and certifications.
• Work with Finance on government accounting, rate proposals, contract cost tracking, and FAR/DFARS processes and training.
• Coordinate with IT, security, and other support teams to address cybersecurity and support-service requirements that apply to government contracts.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned, needed, or required for the business.

Qualifications

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications include:

• Education, Experience and Certifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field required.
  • Minimum of five years of experience in government program or project management, government contract execution, proposal development, or a related role required.
  • Experience with government compliance, reporting, or audit activities preferred.
  • Experience in a technology environment preferred.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Skills and Abilities
  • Strong program management skills, including planning and tracking scope, requirements, schedules, costs, risks, and deliverables.
  • Clear, concise writing and communication skills, including the ability to develop persuasive proposals and accurate program reports.
  • Technical aptitude and a record of resolving complex issues.
  • Familiarity with government contracting and the ability to learn and apply applicable contract, reporting, and compliance requirements.
  • Experience with program management tools and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Ability to work collaboratively, follow through on commitments, adapt to changing priorities, and meet agreed deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with customers, internal teams, suppliers, and external partners.
  • Experience with high-voltage systems and associated safety protocols.
  • Ability to travel up to 10% to visit customers, engineering providers, and hardware suppliers.

Role Classification and Working Conditions

This is a salaried, exempt-level position. This position typically works in an office environment; and given the nature of our business is also exposed to operations/warehouses/production environments.

We are not accepting candidates who require sponsorship for this role at this time.