Deputy Program Manager - Future Combatants and Mission Systems

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.  

Responsibilities for this Position

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) is seeking a highly motivated and capable Deputy DPME to directly support the Deputy Program Manager, Engineering (DPME) within Future Combatants and Mission Systems (FCMS) program.

FCMS is at the forefront of designing, integrating, testing, and delivering mission systems for the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. Our teams transform operational needs into capable, fleet-ready solutions—rapidly developing and deploying critical products and upgrades to ships and Sailors. We work across the full engineering and delivery lifecycle, from defining requirements and developing solutions to integration, test, installation, and fielding, so that high-quality products reach operational platforms quickly and reliably.

The Deputy DPME serves as a key member of the engineering leadership team, assisting the DPME in driving cross-functional engineering execution, maintaining program performance, and delivering technically sound, mission-ready capabilities on schedule and within program commitments. This position also supports technical project management activities as directed by the DPME, including coordination of technical scope, resources, schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables.

The ideal candidate brings systems engineering experience and practical familiarity with shipboard infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, virtualization, or fleet delivery, complemented by solid technical judgment and growing program management expertise. Candidates are not expected to possess every skill listed; leadership potential and the ability to develop expertise rapidly are highly valued.

This is an excellent opportunity for an emerging engineering leader ready to contribute in a complex, fast-paced defense environment, help advance the surface-warfare capabilities the Fleet depends on, and grow into broader engineering and program leadership responsibilities.

What You’ll Do

As the Deputy DPME, you will work closely with the DPME to support engineering execution and technical project management across the FCMS portfolio.

• Engineering Planning & Technical Project Management: Assist in developing and maintaining engineering plans that align technical scope, customer requirements, resources, schedules, budgets, and fleet delivery objectives. Support technical project management as directed by the DPME, including milestone tracking, dependency coordination, action-item management, and preparation of planning artifacts such as BOEs, POA&Ms, and BOMs.
• Systems Engineering, Integration & Fleet Delivery: Support requirements validation and coordinate engineering activities from development through integration, verification, test, installation, and fielding. Track progress against program baselines and help resolve interface issues and delivery obstacles to ensure mission-ready capabilities reach the Fleet.
• Deliverable Quality & Process Compliance: Monitor engineering deliverables and technical documentation for completeness, quality, compliance, and timely delivery. Help ensure adherence to engineering practices, configuration management, cybersecurity, and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
• Technical Issues, Risks & Engineering Changes: Track technical issues, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions across engineering disciplines. Support mitigation planning and change-impact assessments, maintain risk and issue registers, ensure approved changes are reflected in affected program artifacts, and escalate concerns to the DPME.
• Performance Measurement & Reporting: Collect and analyze engineering performance metrics, including EVM, SPI/CPI, CAM, Statistical Process Control, and integration and test progress. Assist in identifying trends, recommending corrective actions, and preparing project reviews and leadership briefings.
• Cross-Functional Coordination & Leadership: Help align priorities and coordinate execution across engineering, program management, operations, supply chain, test, installation, and customer organizations. Support resource coordination, obstacle removal, conflict resolution, and performance feedback as assigned by the DPME while fostering collaboration, urgency, and accountability.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Coordinate lessons-learned activities and support evaluation of AI, automation, emerging technologies, and process improvements that enhance engineering quality, productivity, insight, and delivery speed.

What You Bring

Required Skills & Expertise

• Technical & Analytical: Strong problem-solving skills in multidisciplinary engineering environments, with the ability to apply systems engineering principles and balance rapid execution with quality, cybersecurity, verification, and mission readiness.
• Project Execution & Performance: Working knowledge of technical project management, Agile and other program lifecycles, and performance-control methods, including EVM, SPI/CPI, CAM, and Statistical Process Control. Ability to support coordination of technical scope, resources, schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables under DPME direction.
• Leadership & Communication: Developing leadership capabilities and strong communication, organizational, planning, and time-management skills. Ability to align stakeholders, coordinate cross-functional teams, resolve conflicts, and communicate technical and programmatic information to diverse audiences.
• Tools & Engineering Practices: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Project, with an understanding of company policies, engineering processes, and configuration and change management practices.
• Ownership & Adaptability: Sound technical judgment, the ability to develop expertise rapidly, and a commitment to delivering reliable, mission-critical capabilities to the Fleet with urgency and accountability.

Preferred Technical Skills & Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred; candidates are not expected to possess every skill listed:

• Maritime Systems & Fleet Delivery: U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, or other maritime defense programs; shipboard systems integration, testing, installation, and fielding; TSCE architectures, software-baseline updates, cross-class configuration management, and fleet availability coordination.
• Infrastructure, Networking & Cybersecurity: Virtualization and server/storage infrastructure; shipboard networking and communications; secure configuration, DISA STIGs, vulnerability remediation, and Navy/DoD authorization processes. Familiarity with VMware technologies and CCNA- or Security+-level knowledge is beneficial.
• Systems Engineering & Technical Planning: Full-lifecycle systems engineering, MBSE tools such as Cameo or MagicDraw, Agile IPT execution, engineering change management, and development of BOEs, POA&Ms, BOMs, technical risk assessments, and mitigation plans.
• Software, Automation & AI: Scripting, version control, infrastructure automation, CI/CD, container technologies, and application of AI tools to engineering analysis, technical project management, or continuous improvement.

Candidate must be local to the area and able to work onsite.

Salary Note

This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Combined Salary Range

USD $135,396.00 - USD $150,205.00 /Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans