Senior Program Manager
Insitu
Senior Program Manager
Insitu
Manufactures military-grade unmanned aerial systems
The Senior Program Manager – Unmanned Systemsis responsible forend‑to‑end leadershipandregionalportfolio managementof complex unmanned systems programs (air, ground, maritime, or multi-domain) fromcapturetoproposaldevelopment,engineering, production, deployment, and sustainment. This role owns customer satisfaction, cost, schedule, and technical performance for the portfolio and leads strategic initiatives across the region that drive new revenue opportunities and may also include leadership and management of a team of program management professionals.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Execution:
-Lead planning and execution of one or more complex, multi‑year unmanned systemsprograms andregionalportfolioof programs
- Provide strategic leadership and governance for a regional portfolio of complex, multi‑year unmanned systems programs
- Manage portfolio scorecardforprogram baselines (scope, schedule, budget)
-Execute program planwith engineering,logistics,operations, supply chain, quality, andfunctionalsupport teamsandidentifyimprovement opportunities
- Proactively assessportfolio health (cost, schedule,performance),risks and issues; develop and implement mitigation and recovery plans
- Prioritize resources, investments, and risk mitigation across programs to meet regional growth, margin, and strategic objectives
- Ensure portfolio‑wide adherence to technical performance, safety, and regulatory requirements (e.g., airworthiness, certification, range/test) and resolve cross‑program integration issues.
Customer & Stakeholder Management:
-Establish and nurture stakeholder relationships with key regional customers and partners
- Oversee customer satisfaction, communications, and contract performance across programs; empower program managers to maintain strong relationships and contractual compliance
- Develop multi-year customer engagement strategies and portfolio-level partnership plans to maximize growth and retention.
- Collaborate with executive leadership to define regional portfolioobjectives, performance targets, and investment priorities
-Consolidateand present integrated portfolio performance, risks, and opportunities to Insitu and Boeing senior leadership
Financial & Contract Management:
- Own portfolioP&L performance, including revenue forecasting, margin, and cash flowprojections
- Develop and manage portfoliobudgets;monitorEVM or equivalent performance metricsasapplicable
- Ensuretimely,accuratereporting and support internal financial reviews
Strategic Planning & Business Growth:
- Develop& deployregional execution strategy in collaboration withGlobalGrowth & Program Managers
- Support capture activities, including customer engagement, solution strategy, teaming, and price‑to‑win.
-Support proposal efforts: requirements analysis, WBS, schedules, risk registers, and management volumes.
-Identifygrowth opportunities (follow‑on contracts, upgrades, new mission sets) within existing portfolio
- Provide strategic input on product roadmaps for unmanned systems and related services (payloads, autonomy, C2, data services).
-Continuously scan and respond to market and customer trends to identify and shape new opportunities for revenue growth
Team Leadership& ContinuousImprovement:
-Manage programmanagers,supportperformance management, coaching, and succession planningtasks
- Leadportfolioteams;establishpriorities,ensureaccountability, andeffectivecommunicationacrossfunctional IPT
- Mentor and develop program managersin program management best practices
-Champion a culture of safety, quality, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement across all programs in the region
- Drive process improvementsacrossprogram management and lifecycle governance
- Ownexecutionmetrics for unmanned systems portfolio
-Driveswiftdecision‑making across programs.
- Standardize best practices in planning, execution, and reporting; ensure consistent application by teams
Required Qualifications
-Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in program or project management, with at least8years managing complex aerospace,defenseor unmanned systems programs.
-Demonstratedsuccess managing full lifecycleportfolio ofprograms (concept through deployment/sustainment)
- Proven ability to manage cost, schedule, and technical performance; experience with gated development and phasereviews
- Strong understanding of unmanned systems architectures, subsystems, and mission applications.
- Experience working with government and/or commercial acquisition frameworks
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
-Proficiencywith program management tools (e.g., MS Project or Primavera,requirements matrix,risk registers, dashboards).
- Ability to travel asrequired(typically 10–25%).
- Ability to obtain andmaintaina security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
-Master’s degree in Engineering, Business (MBA), or related technical discipline.
- PMP,PgMP, or DAU/Defense Acquisition certification (or equivalent).
- Experience with:
- Military or commercial UAS development, integration, and fielding– Acquisition and Services
- Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Agile or hybrid Agile/waterfall development environments.
- Direct experience interfacing with DoD service branchesandinternational defense customers
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking and ability to translateregionalcustomer needsinto executable plans
- Strong systems thinking and ability to manage technical complexity and integration.
- Decisive, organized, and comfortable operating in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
- High integrity and commitment to safety, compliance, and mission success.
In-Office Requirement Statement:
This role requires hands-on work on our products/collaboration with on-site teams, and will need to work onsite full-time in Bingen, WA.
Relocation Statement:
This position is eligible for relocation assistance. Visit our Careers - Insitu page to learn more about our benefits, 9/80 work schedule and flexible work model.
At Insitu, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
Insitu also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability programs and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.
The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire.
Please note that the salary information show below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications and work location.
Insitu is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Insitu designs, develops, and manufactures uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for defense and government customers. Its products, including ScanEagle, Integrator, and RQ-21A Blackjack, are runway-independent aircraft launched with a pneumatic catapult and recovered with the SkyHook system, letting them operate from ships, trucks, or other non-runway sites. The aircraft carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime searches, target identification, and port security, supported by software and ground control like the Common Ground Control Station (ICOMC2) that can manage multiple aircraft. What sets Insitu apart is its long-running defense focus, its SkyHook recovery method, and its partnership with Boeing, which helped it become a Boeing subsidiary in 2008. The company aims to provide high-performance, cost-effective UAS and related services and training to defense and government clients worldwide, enabling advanced aerial intelligence and situational awareness.
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