S

Saab

Global defense contractor supplying fighter jets

Principal Program Manager

Full-TimeDeadline 12/23/26
$165.7k - $223.8k+ Employee stock purchase opportunities
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA
East Syracuse, NY, USA
In Person
Project & Program ManagementProgram Management
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline is required; a master's degree or MBA is preferred.
  • At least 12 years of experience in surveillance systems, including radar, civil aviation, and FAA capability production programs or project management.
  • Experience transitioning product production from one location to another.
  • Experience with risk and opportunity management.
  • Experience with surveillance defense programs is required.
  • Experience with federal contracting processes, including EVMS, ECP/RFV, FAR, OTAs, SAPs, CRADAs, and WPP.
  • Must hold or be able to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance; TS/SCI is a plus.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Domestic and international travel of up to 10–15% annually is required.
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug screen.
Responsibilities
  • Provide overall leadership and accountability for assigned program portfolios, including cost, schedule, technical performance, customer satisfaction, and profitable growth.
  • Establish and govern program strategy, budgets, execution plans, and performance metrics, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer requirements, including effective use of EVM/EVMS for internal and external reporting.
  • Lead complex, multidisciplinary programs spanning the design, development, manufacturing, integration, installation, deployment, modernization, and sustainment of ground-based and airborne/air-traffic radar and Air Traffic Management systems.
  • Drive business growth and capture strategy across defense, civil aviation, commercial radar, and Air Traffic Management markets by identifying new opportunities, developing competitive proposals, and leveraging customer, market, and competitive intelligence.
  • Build and maintain strategic customer and industry relationships with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), international air service organizations, military and civil aviation customers, and major industry primes to strengthen existing programs and identify new opportunities.
  • Provide executive-level oversight of program execution, ensuring adherence to established processes and successful management of requirements, risk, integration, operational readiness, site acceptance, field deployment, regulatory considerations, and customer commitments.
  • Lead cross-functional collaboration across engineering, operations, contracts, finance, quality, supply chain, construction/civil works, sales, product management, and other organizations to optimize resources and achieve portfolio objectives.
  • Oversee infrastructure and civil works activities supporting radar and Air Traffic Management deployments, including site development, construction, facilities, utilities, installation, and subcontractor execution.
  • Develop and lead high-performing program management teams, including mentoring and developing program leaders, making talent recommendations, and fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure program execution reflects the unique requirements of defense and civil aviation environments, with emphasis on performance, reliability, quality, cost, schedule, regulatory compliance, and successful customer outcomes.
  • Represent the organization with senior customers and stakeholders, supporting business and program activities across multiple time zones and traveling internationally as required.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience supporting civil aviation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs, international air service organizations, and associated civil infrastructure or construction activities.
  • Experience with direct commercial and Foreign Military Sales.
  • A master's degree or MBA.

About the company

Saab is a Swedish defense and security company that supplies governments with advanced weapons, sensors, and protection across air, sea, and cyberspace. Its main offerings include Gripen fighter jets, radar and surveillance systems, and unmanned underwater vehicles. Saab’s products work by integrating sophisticated airframes and engines with cutting-edge sensors, data links, and control software to detect, track, and defend against threats; its unmanned underwater vehicles perform reconnaissance and mine countermeasures, while its cybersecurity and defense systems protect networks and critical infrastructure. Saab differentiates itself through its long history in military aviation, a portfolio that spans air, sea, and cyber capabilities, and a focus on integrated, turnkey defense solutions rather than consumer products. The company’s goal is to be a trusted global partner for governments, delivering reliable, comprehensive defense and security technology and services.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Stockholms kommun, Sweden

Founded

1937

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 order backlog hit SEK318 billion after Poland’s SEK47 billion submarine contract.
  • Saab booked 16 Gripen E fighters for Ukraine and won Canada’s GlobalEye selection.
  • Q2 2026 organic growth neared 30%, with EBIT margin expanding to 11%.

What critics are saying

  • Canada’s GlobalEye review exposed capability gaps, risking delays, redesigns, and reputational damage.
  • A26 deliveries run to 2038, leaving Saab exposed to execution slippage and cost overruns.
  • Saab’s growth depends heavily on war-driven demand; any Ukraine ceasefire cuts urgency sharply.

What makes Saab unique

  • Gripen, GlobalEye, and A26 give Saab full-spectrum air, sea, and ISR exposure.
  • Saab’s NATO and Canadian partnerships embed it in allied procurement networks.
  • Its 2026 production ramp and new Naval unit deepen manufacturing breadth.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • Bereavement Leave
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Student Loan Assistance

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

0%
Yahoo Finance
Oct 24th, 2026
Saab Q3 revenue jumps 29.5% to $1.9B as $33.9B backlog tests 46x P/E valuation

Saab reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of SEK 20,553m, up 29.5% from SEK 15,871m a year earlier. Net income rose 45.1% to SEK 1,389m, and basic earnings per share climbed to SEK 2.58 from SEK 1.78. The EBIT margin improved to 9.5% from 8.7%. Order backlog grew to SEK 364b, with about SEK 102b due to convert next year, while cash conversion reached 77%. Nine-month organic growth topped 27%, but the share price barely moved. The stock trades at SEK646.5, a trailing P/E of 46.3x, well above a discounted cash flow estimate. Profit drags remain. The T-7 trainer costs slightly more than SEK 100m per quarter, and Naval booked SEK 200m of bid-related costs.

PR Newswire
Oct 23rd, 2026
Saab Q3 orders jump to $6.1B on Ukraine Gripen deal, as sales rise 30.6% organically

Saab reported strong third-quarter results on October 23, driven by major defence contracts. Order bookings rose to SEK 65,825 million from SEK 20,861 million a year earlier. Big orders included SEK 24.6 billion for Gripen E jets for Ukraine, SEK 10.1 billion for GlobalEye to an undisclosed customer, and SEK 8.7 billion for systems for German frigates. Sales reached SEK 20,553 million, up from SEK 15,871 million, with organic growth of 30.6%. EBIT rose 42% to SEK 1,945 million, and net income climbed to SEK 1,432 million from SEK 975 million. Operational cash flow jumped to SEK 6,785 million from SEK 142 million. Chief executive officer Micael Johansson said the strong order backlog positions Saab "well for continued growth.

CNBC
Oct 23rd, 2026
Saab orders triple to $6.6B on Ukraine Gripen jet deal, beating forecasts

Saab, the Swedish defence group, reported third-quarter orders of 65.8 billion Swedish kronor (around $6.6 billion), more than triple the 20.9 billion kronor of a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected 56.4 billion kronor. A contract worth 24.6 billion kronor for 16 Gripen E fighter jets for Ukraine, signed in June, was booked in the quarter. Sales reached 20.6 billion kronor, ahead of the 20 billion expected. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) came in at 1.95 billion kronor, beating the forecast of 1.9 billion. Chief executive officer Micael Johansson said demand was reflected in major awards, including Gripen for Ukraine, GlobalEye and an order related to Germany's new frigates.

PR Newswire
Oct 16th, 2026
Saab and Swedish authorities launch large uncrewed underwater vehicle within a year of contract award

Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces have built and launched a demonstrator for a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV). The work took less than a year from contract award to sea trials. The first phase is complete. The next phase is expected to focus on more advanced capabilities, and the results will support further development of software, sensors, and autonomous functions. Saab credits its software-centric approach and its Autonomous Ocean Core control system, combined with Swedish expertise in submarine design and sensor integration. The vehicle is meant to operate alongside platforms such as submarines. FMV now leads the project, which will inform Swedish decisions on buying and using autonomous underwater systems. "The fact that we have also been able to develop and test the system in such a short timeframe demonstrates the strength of the collaboration," said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab's business area Naval.

Robodaily
Oct 1st, 2026
Australian aerospace startup Hypersonix raises $46M to develop world's first hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft

Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems has raised $46 million in Series A funding led by UK's High Tor Capital, with participation from Saab, RKKVC, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, and Queensland Investment Corporation. The company develops reusable hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft for defence and aerospace applications. Founded in 2019, Hypersonix employs 45 specialists. Its SPARTAN scramjet engine, invented by co-founder Dr Michael Smart, reaches Mach 12 with no moving parts and eliminates CO2 emissions by using green hydrogen instead of kerosene. The funding will support a NASA-backed test flight of the DART AE vehicle under the US Department of Defense HyCAT programme. Hypersonix was selected as the first HyCAT contract from over 60 companies. Proceeds will also finance manufacturing facilities in Queensland and development of VISR, an 8-metre reusable aircraft with four SPARTAN engines.