Program Manager

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership
• Lead an industry shipbuilding program with the potential scale and rigor of an Acquisition Category (ACAT) I effort, from design through lifecycle sustainment.
• Translate Navy and DoD customer objectives into executable program plans, aligning cost, schedule, and performance with mission priorities.
• Guide multidisciplinary industry teams through complex integration efforts while collaborating with Navy program offices and partners.


• Planning & Execution
• Develop and manage integrated schedules, program baselines, budgets, and risk frameworks.
• Apply disciplined systems engineering and acquisition processes across hull, mechanical & electrical (HM&E), combat systems, autonomy, and sustainment.
• Oversee integration of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE), ensuring timely and interoperable incorporation of subsystem and weapons technologies.
• Drive producibility, scalability, and shipyard readiness to support rapid deployment and sustainment.
• Ensure compliance with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards and relevant Navy requirements and DOD regulations/CDRLs..
• Ensure disciplined application of systems engineering processes, including development of CONOPS, requirements deconstruction, and traceability, with a maintained Requirements Verification Traceability Matrix (RVTM) to validate contract deliverables and mission objectives.
• Support technical demonstrations, shipyard trials, lab and field testing, and integration activities with Navy and external partners.
• Drive iterative design-build-test-risk reduction cycles across hull, HM&E, combat systems, autonomy, and weapons integration.
• Oversee development of resilient shipboard software and hardware systems, ensuring integration with Navy Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and government-defined standards.


• Stakeholder & Subcontractor Engagement
• Serve as a trusted key industry interface with NAVSEA, PEOs, program offices, and fleet stakeholders to ensure alignment with customer objectives.
• Build and manage relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and subsystem primes to deliver integrated platforms at scale.
• Represent the company in Navy-led working groups, milestone reviews, and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs).
• Provide programmatic reporting and briefings to Navy stakeholders and senior company leadership.
• Engage with academic and research partners to incorporate innovation, autonomy, and advanced technologies into shipbuilding programs where applicable.
• Support business development and capture activities by shaping technical proposals, providing programmatic input, and ensuring customer alignment for follow-on opportunities.
• Contribute to proposals and capture activities , ensuring technical credibility, level of effort, and programmatic rigor in submissions.
• Partner with internal growth and strategy teams to identify and qualify new opportunities aligned with Navy shipbuilding priorities.
• Support development of long-term business strategies, customer engagement plans, and competitive positioning.


• Risk & Resource Management
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework, including formal risk registers, to proactively mitigate technical, schedule, financial, and industrial base risks.


• Reporting & Communication
• Deliver transparent reporting on program performance to Navy stakeholders and internal company leadership.
• Provide cost and schedule variance analysis, milestone reports, and readiness assessments.
• Define and track technical performance metrics tied to integration, sustainment, and fleet availability.
• Provide detailed financial reporting and variance analysis to ensure strict adherence to cost, schedule, and technical baselines, across firm-fixed-price and other contract types.
• Deliver contractual reports and CDRLs in compliance with Navy requirements, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure company compliance with government security requirements, including classified material handling, cybersecurity, and OPSEC standards.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, naval architecture, or related technical field (Master’s preferred).
• 12+ years of DoD program management experience, with at least 8+ years in shipbuilding or major defense acquisition programs of comparable scale.
• Demonstrated expertise in lifecycle management, acquisition processes, and integration of GFE and CFE across cutting edge ship platforms.
• Proven success in managing large, multi-billion-dollar budgets and multi-year program baselines.
• Experience coordinating with subsystem and weapons primes for complex system-of-systems integration.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, including experience presenting to Navy customers and senior company executives.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (Top Secret w/ SCI eligibility preferred).


• Preferred Qualifications
• DAWIA Level III (or equivalent) in Program Management.
• Prior experience delivering shipbuilding programs with NAVSEA, PEO Ships, PEO USC, or other major Navy acquisition organizations.
• Experience overseeing shipyard readiness, full rate production throughput, and industrial base management.
• Familiarity with congressional budget processes and Navy PPBE.
• PMP certification or equivalent.
• Experience executing programs under multiple acquisition pathways, including FAR-based contracts, OTAs, and rapid prototyping authorities.
• Direct Service Branch experience in program management, acquisitions, or related Executive Branch experience
• Proficiency in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, or Arabic is preferred


• Key Competencies
• Demonstrated ability to stand-up, manage and lead shipbuilding programs with the scale and rigor of ACAT I efforts.
• Strong technical fluency across naval engineering, combat systems, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder engagement with government customers and industry partners.
• Skilled in balancing acquisition discipline with innovative, rapid fielding approaches.
• Proven track record delivering platforms that meet mission readiness and long-term sustainment goals.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
• Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
• Saronic pays 99% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
• Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
• Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
• Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
• Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office 

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages).