Full-Time
IT and Cybersecurity Program Manager
CHAOS Industries
51-200 employees
Engineering-led defense and critical-industry technology platform
Compensation Overview
$180k - $215k/yr
West Athens, CA, USA
In Person
 Business & Strategy (1) |
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- Must be a U.S. citizen eligible for access to government facilities and sensitive information.
- Ability to obtain additional clearances as required by contract.
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Business, or related field.
- 5+ years of IT and/or cybersecurity project and/or program management experience, including 3+ years supporting DoD or federal programs.
- Proven ability to manage programs of $1M+ value and teams of 10+ members.
- Experience leading in environments without strong existing project management structures.
- Experience scaling project and program operations within a startup or early-stage organization.
- Expert proficiency with project and work management tools (MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet), platforms, and agile methodologies.
- Solid grasp of risk management, critical path analysis, and dependency mapping.
- Strong understanding of DoD IT systems, architectures, and cybersecurity frameworks.
- Familiarity with systems development lifecycle methodologies and DevSecOps concepts.
- Establish the initial project and program management framework for the department using Disciplined Agile (DA) methodology principles—context-driven, fit-for-purpose, minimal bureaucracy, focused on flow and value delivery.
- Partner with company leadership to align IT and cybersecurity projects and programs with strategic objectives, customer commitments, and compliance requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement in ways of working (WoW), team throughput, and technical delivery processes.
- Introduce scalable governance, reporting, and project controls appropriate for a startup working in regulated DoD environments.
- Build foundational project and program management practices from the ground up, shaping organizational standards and preparing the company for future PMO implementation.Champion organizational readiness for a future PMO, including intake processes, prioritization models, work visualization, and cross-team coordination.
- Lead end-to-end delivery of IT and cybersecurity initiatives supporting DoD programs, including infrastructure buildouts, system implementations, secure network deployments, enterprise tools, and software or automation capabilities.
- Build adaptive project plans that incorporate hybrid approaches (Agile, Lean, Kanban, iterative, traditional) selected based on context, constraints, and government customer expectations.
- Manage scope, schedules, risks, and resources while maintaining alignment with contract deliverables, DoD technical requirements, and security standards.
- Coordinate across internal engineering, cybersecurity, compliance, facilities, and operations teams as well as any third-party partners or contractors.
- Build transparent communication channels and cadence-based reporting for executive leadership and DoD customers.
- Ensure all program activities comply with DoD cybersecurity requirements, including NIST 800-171/CMMC.
- Maintain strict adherence to ITAR, EAR, and all export control regulations.
- Help establish and uphold policies and procedures for handling CUI and classified materials; ensure teams understand and adhere to secure work protocols.
- Partner with Information Assurance, Security, IT, and other enterprise teams to support assessment and accreditation activities.
- Build compliance checkpoints into program workflows to reduce rework, improve audit readiness, and maintain compliance programs post-operationalization.
- Operate programs in alignment with FAR/DFARS, contract requirements, and customer expectations.
- Track and report deliverables, milestones, burn-down/burn-up metrics, risks, and performance indicators.
- Prepare briefings, status updates, and customer communications for government program offices and oversight personnel.
- Support on proposals, capture activities, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates, and technical inputs for new business opportunities.
- Provide project and program management leadership to establish scalable standards, best practices, and governance frameworks, guiding the evolution toward a formal Project Management Office (PMO).
- Lead cross-functional teams across cyber, IT operations, engineering, product, and other business functions, fostering collaboration and execution.
- Mentor teams on Disciplined Agile, Definition-of-Done delivery practices, and effective work orchestration.
- Facilitate cross-departmental relationship building, ensuring alignment and transparency across teams.
- Build a culture of incremental improvement, throughput optimization, and value-focused execution.
- Guide workforce planning, performance evaluations, and professional development for project personnel.
- Active Secret clearance
- Advanced degree in a related field.
- Experience working directly with DoD agencies or military branches.
- Prior military service or extensive interaction with uniformed services.
- Experience supporting both CONUS and OCONUS operations.
- Valuable certifications: PMP, PgMP, Disciplined Agile Scrum Master/Agile/Scrum, or equivalent, CISSP, ITIL, Security+, or higher DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification.
CHAOS Industries builds defense and critical-technology solutions by pairing mission-driven engineers with an agile platform that enables rapid prototyping and real-world application. It focuses on solving high-stakes problems in defense and critical industries through an engineering-led workflow and close partnerships with defense entities and industry players. The company brings together engineers and a development platform to design, test, and iterate solutions quickly, taking prototypes from concept to field-ready applications. Its goal is to deliver deployable engineering solutions for the next generation of defense and critical infrastructure technologies.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series D
Total Funding
$1B
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
2022
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Raised $510M Series D at $4.5B valuation led by Valor Equity Partners in November 2025.
- Secured $1.9M AFWERX TACFI award on September 17, 2025, for defense enhancements.
- Acquired Ziva Corp. to bolster wireless time synchronization for radar capabilities.
What critics are saying
- Ziva Corp. integration fails, delaying ASTRIA deployment to Eglin AFB within 6-12 months.
- Raytheon and Northrop Grumman invalidate CDN patents, eroding 10x cost advantage in 18-36 months.
- $4.5B valuation collapses to write-down without revenue in 12-24 months post-Series D.
What makes CHAOS Industries unique
- CHAOS Industries pioneers Coherent Distributed Networking (CDN) multi-static radar using low-cost sensors.
- CDN reduces radar costs over 10x versus single expensive systems with network effect scaling.
- ASTRIA system adapts for Air Force multi-object tracking at Eglin Air Force Base.
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Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -3%1 year growth
↑ 2%2 year growth
↓ -4%Astrion names new CEO, taps leaders for space, growth roles. Astrion has appointed Tom Vice as executive chair and CEO, Eric Brown as president of space operations and allied missions and Conn Doherty as chief growth officer, all effective immediately. "Mission demands are increasing in speed, complexity, and consequence," Vice said. "Astrion's strength starts with its people - a talented team with deep mission understanding, strong customer relationships, and a proven record of execution. We are building on that foundation with focus, urgency, and resolve - strengthening what we do best today while expanding the operational capabilities, integrated solutions, and innovative technologies we bring to our customers. We intend to build on Astrion's strengths and deliver greater capability, broader innovation, and more decisive impact for the missions we serve." Vice succeeds Dave Zolet, who led Astrion since the company's 2023 launch and helped establish the company's strong operational base. "Building Astrion from three separate businesses into a $1B+ company is something I will always be proud of," Zolet said. "More than the numbers, I am proud of the team we built and the mission they show up for every day. Their talent, commitment, and mission focus is what makes Astrion truly stand apart in this industry." Vice served as CEO of Sierra Space, where he helped build the company into a $5.4 billion enterprise and led $1.7 billion in Series A and B capital raises. Before that, he was chairman, CEO and president of Aerion Corp. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Northrop Grumman, including president of its Aerospace Systems sector and president of its Technical Services sector. Brown most recently served as vice president of mission strategy and advanced capabilities at Lockheed Martin Space. He has also held roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, URS Corp./EG&G Technical Services and PwC. Doherty most recently served as chief growth officer of CHAOS Industries. Earlier, he spent nearly two decades at Raytheon, RTX and Collins Aerospace, including as vice president and general manager overseeing battle management, command and control, and autonomy platforms.
Counter-drone radar manufacturer Chaos Industries raised $510 million in a funding round that closed last month, the company's CEO said, the latest sign of booming investor interest in emerging military technology firms.
Chaos Industries, a counter-drone radar firm, raised $510 million in a Series D funding round led by Valor Equity Partners, valuing the company at $4.5 billion. This brings their total funding to $1 billion. The funds will be used to expand manufacturing and workforce. Valor's CEO, Antonio Gracias, joins Chaos' board. The investment reflects growing interest in defense tech amid global tensions and drone threats. Chaos plans to announce multiple contracts soon.
LOS ANGELES, September 17, 2025 BUSINESS WIRE )--CHAOS Industries, the leader in coherent distributed networking (CDN) multi-static radar, today announced it was selected for a $1.9 million award from the U.S. Air Force's Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) program. AFWERX selected CHAOS Industries to adapt its advanced ASTRIA air and missile defense system into a multi-object tracking instrumentation radar, designed specifically to enhance test and training mission capabilities at Eglin Air Force Base. "We are proud to support the Air Force's need for global persistent awareness, delivering continuous, high-fidelity tracking across expansive distances," said John Tenet and Dr. Bo Marr, co-founders and co-CEOs of CHAOS Industries. "With global conflicts at their highest point since World War II, providing our military personnel with cutting-edge training capabilities to effectively counter sophisticated threats is more critical than ever." CHAOS Industries' CDN multi-static radar systems offer a revolutionary shift in affordability, performance, and resilience. Instead of relying on single, expensive systems costing tens of millions of dollars, CDN technology utilizes multiple low-cost sensors, reducing costs by over 10x while enabling full weapons-quality tracking across a broad instantaneous field of regard. The system's performance improves as more nodes are added, creating a network effect that dramatically enhances capabilities. About CHAOS Industries CHAOS Industries is a technology company building the next generation of defense and critical industry technologies. Applying an engineering-led strategy, CHAOS Industries provides mission-driven, world-class engineers with a platform to build solutions to critical real-world problems. The company's sprint engineering system enables rapid prototyping, while deep partnerships with defense and industry ensure real-world application. CHAOS Industries has raised $490 million in total funding from leading investors including Accel, 8VC, and NEA, and is actively developing Coherent Distributed Networks technology for defense and commercial applications. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250917840075/en/ Media Contact: [email protected]
(The Wall Street Journal) CHAOS Industries Secures $275 Million Series C to Advance Defense Technology and Coherent Distributed Networks May 2, 2025 - CHAOS Industries has raised $275 million in a Series C funding round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and co-led by Accel, bringing its total funding to $490 million since inception.