Full-Time

Director Programs

Posted on 1/6/2026

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation

1,001-5,000 employees

Aerospace and defense contractor; C5ISR systems

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Dayton, OH, USA + 1 more

More locations: Wichita, KS, USA

In Person

US Top Secret Clearance, US Citizenship Required

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)
Required Skills
Marketing
Requirements
  • Bachelors degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Technical Management or similar field
  • Extensive knowledge and experience within program management including use and application of Earned Value Management to manage manufacturing, aerospace and/or engineering programs
  • Relevant experience may substitute for required education
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of program management, science, aerospace and/or engineering programs
  • Prior experience leading a team of Project/Program Managers, creating high-energy, accountable work environments, and a proven track record of building and retaining a highly engaged workforce
  • Experience directing the preparation of proposals, business plans, specifications, and approves basis of estimates and rough order of magnitudes for potential pursuits and ensuring all resources such as engineering, manpower, production and facilities are available to support the program
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of managing the cost, schedule and technical performance requirements of multiple programs through all phases from inception to completion
  • Proven track-record developing, communicating and executing to meet financial forecasts
  • Extensive experience with the development of tactical and strategic business growth strategy
  • Responsible for high-level relationship management internally (executive leadership, peers, support functions, and subordinates) and external customers; Interact internally with leaders and customers on business matters and partners with functional leadership towards success and continuous improvement
  • Responsible for customer satisfaction, maintaining customer communication, and the overall management of the customer relationship to determine needs, requirements and new business opportunities
  • Ability to manage complex situations, delegate authority, lead and inspire your team, drive innovative thinking, instill collaboration, drive for success, challenge status quo and demonstrate ability to adapt to dynamic situations
  • Proven experience and skills in team building, time management, conflict resolution, communication, briefing, presentation, strategic thinking, marketing, and literacy in the program management disciplines
  • Familiarity with managing projects requiring Earned Value Management
  • Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly express technical concepts in verbal and written forms; a0ability to tailor conversations to adapt to technical vs. non-technical audiences
  • Proven ability to solve highly complex problems with significant business impact
  • Ability to obtain and maintain US Secret Clearance
Desired Qualifications
  • Typically 10-12+ years of relevant experience; 7+ years demonstrated program management experience
  • Previous ownership of P&L responsibilities
  • Previous management experience that includes understanding in Financial Management, Business Operations, Strategic Planning, Contracts, Risk Management, and Proposal Development
  • Ability to motivate others with a shared sense of vision or purpose.
  • Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies
  • Possess a strategic mindset, linking technology and business
  • Understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)/Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) compliance
  • Working knowledge of Program Management Institute Program Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and/or Program Management Professional (PMP) Certification
  • Prior experience managing projects using Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), agile and or spiral development models
  • Ability to lead Program Management process and tool improvement for the Business Unit
  • Ability to establish centralized, coordinating body for program concerns, recommendations, and issues; developing recommended process improvements; facilitating opportunities with corporate
  • Ability to establish new and further refining existing templates, tools, and guidelines for program documentation and execution
  • Experience with ensuring compliance with ISO 9001:2000 Policies and Processes
  • Previous Program and/or Technical Leadership experience in large aircraft development and modification programs and/or commercial aircraft manufacturing
  • Extensive experience on development and modification programs with aircraft flight and ground test programs
  • Experience implementing Digital Twin and Digital Thread methods and processes
  • Experience with FAA Part 25 requirements including DERs, UMs, ODAs, and MCB coordination and qualification of aircraft components and systems
Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation

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Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is an aerospace and defense contractor that secures and executes U.S. government contracts with DoD and NASA. It designs and modifies aircraft systems and develops C5ISR solutions, backed by electronics, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities. The company differentiates itself through a long history, in-house integrated capabilities, and strategic acquisitions that focus on government needs. Its goal is to win and execute complex national security and space missions by delivering end-to-end aerospace and defense systems.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Sparks, Nevada

Founded

1963

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Vindler 2.0 scales to 20+ satellites, capturing DoD RF intelligence demand by 2028.
  • $13B SAOC contract through 2036 replaces E-4B fleet with SNC-led integration.
  • NRO selects Vindler for RF study, unlocking expanded intelligence procurement contracts.

What critics are saying

  • SpaceX Starshield erodes Vindler market share in DoD RF contracts within 12 months.
  • Boeing protests SAOC contract, delaying award 6-12 months via GAO challenges.
  • DoD FY2027 NDAA mandates redesign SNC C5ISR electronics, slashing margins immediately.

What makes Sierra Nevada Corporation unique

  • SNC excels as privately owned mid-tier prime contractor with rapid innovation agility.
  • SNC delivers open architecture C5ISR systems across air, space, and cyber domains.
  • SNC specializes in mission-tailored aircraft modifications for DoD and NASA contracts.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Company News

Defence Leaders Limited
Apr 16th, 2026
U.S. Army boosts Gray Eagle drone with advanced electronic intelligence upgrade.

U.S. Army boosts Gray Eagle drone with advanced electronic intelligence upgrade. Image: General Atomics The U.S. Army has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) a contract to equip its MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range drone with upgraded electronic intelligence capabilities, strengthening its ability to detect and locate enemy air defence systems. The new electronic intelligence (ELINT) sensor package will allow Gray Eagle ER aircraft to operate beyond the reach of adversary threats while scanning deep into contested airspace. The upgrade directly supports the Army's Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) mission, feeding real-time intelligence to ground commanders. GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said the combination of long-range detection and the platform's endurance ensures commanders can track when an adversary IADS is active. He added that Gray Eagle's open systems architecture makes the integration straightforward but operationally significant, according to GA-ASI. Targeting enemy air defences. The ELINT sensor identifies and geo-locates critical threats essential to Joint Force Operations. GA-ASI will partner with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and the Capability Program Executive for Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare to integrate advanced radar detection and signal collection technology into the platform. The upgrade enhances Gray Eagle ER's value in contested environments where identifying and suppressing enemy air defences is a prerequisite for broader operations. By keeping the drone outside threat envelopes, the Army also reduces risk to crewed aircraft operating in the same battlespace, a key objective in modern manned-unmanned teaming concepts. A platform built for multi-domain operations. The ELINT upgrade is one layer of a broader sensor modernisation effort. Gray Eagle ER has already demonstrated modernised Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Synthetic Aperture Radar and Moving Target Indicator (SAR/MTI) capabilities, and Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) radios across multiple Army exercises. These capabilities align with the Army's C5ISR Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) architecture, a framework designed to allow rapid integration of new sensors, payloads, and weapons as threats evolve. The approach gives programme managers flexibility to adapt the platform without costly redesigns. Proven in contested environments. Gray Eagle ER demonstrated its multi-mission potential during Project Convergence Capstone-5 (PCC-5), the Army's large-scale modernisation experiment held last year. Operating in an electronically contested environment, the aircraft conducted persistent Detect, Identify, Locate, and Report (DILR) missions while simultaneously providing aerial mesh network support to manoeuvre units. The exercise highlighted how the platform can bridge communication gaps caused by terrain or range limitations, connecting soldiers and launched effects that might otherwise lose contact. Critically, it did this while remaining resilient to jamming. PCC-5 also demonstrated the platform's human-machine interface improvements, which reduce the cognitive burden on operators by automating certain inputs. Gray Eagle ER cross-cued ELINT, COMINT, SAR, and Aerial Tier Network Expansion (ATNE) data during the exercise, boosting force survivability across the Combined Joint Task Force. Strategic context. The upgrade reflects broader U.S. Army efforts to modernise its unmanned aerial systems for high-end conflict scenarios. As near-peer adversaries invest heavily in integrated air defence networks, the ability to detect, locate, and characterise those systems from standoff range has become a critical operational requirement. Gray Eagle ER's persistent endurance and open architecture position it as a central node in the Army's emerging intelligence and targeting networks.

Tendernews
Sep 25th, 2025
SNC, Embraer Ink A-29 Super Tucano Deal for US Foreign Military Sale

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has signed an agreement to purchase an A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.

Halldale Group
Sep 24th, 2025
Training Role Secured in US AOC Program

CAE Defense & Security has been selected by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to provide training systems for the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program with the U.S. Air Force.

Insider Monkey
Aug 20th, 2025
AeroVironment (AVAV) Partners with Sierra Nevada for Air Defense System

On August 7, the company announced that it had formed a strategic partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to develop an advanced air and missile defense system for the Golden Dome for America (GDA) initiative.

ExecutiveBiz
Jun 27th, 2025
Joe Kopacz Named AI Tech VP at SNC

Sierra Nevada Corp. has named Joe Kopacz as its first vice president of artificial intelligence technology.

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