Program Manager

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Space and Launch business, which has contributed to the nation’s space programs for decades by delivering complete solutions from concept to flight. We enable successful space operations with mission-critical technology supporting every step from first launch to final landing, including launch vehicle subsystems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic and interstage systems, and payload protection and deployment. Our high-performance solutions are engineered to operate in the most extreme environments and meet precise mission requirements.

As a Program Manager, you lead assigned programs from planning and development through qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion. You are accountable for cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives while coordinating execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, test, and other program stakeholders. Your leadership supports the successful delivery of integrated launch, propulsion, payload, and defense-system hardware that meets customer and mission requirements.

This role reports to the Integrated Product Lead.

Responsibilities

• Leads assigned programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
• Owns performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives.
• Develops and maintains integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and performance metrics.
• Coordinates cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and test.
• Serves as a primary program interface for customers, prime contractors, government stakeholders, suppliers, and internal leadership.
• Identifies technical, programmatic, supply-chain, cost, and schedule risks and drives mitigation and recovery plans.
• Leads recurring program reviews and communicates financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and corrective actions.
• Supports design reviews, test-readiness reviews, qualification activities, production-readiness reviews, and customer acceptance events.
• Manages contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes.
• Supports proposals, estimates, contract negotiations, follow-on opportunities, and program-growth activities.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Program Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting or managing aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex technical programs.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Master of Business Administration (MBA).
• Experience managing Department of Defense, U.S. government, allied-defense, or prime-contractor programs.
• Experience with missile systems, propulsion, launch systems, payload integration, separation systems, energetic devices, or related flight hardware.
• Experience managing programs from development through qualification and production.
• Knowledge of government contracting and fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, or incentive-based contract structures.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), cost-account management, or similar financial-performance methods.
• Experience supporting proposals, estimates, negotiations, contract modifications, or follow-on program capture.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent formal program-management training.
• Experience with program scheduling, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Experience leading engineering teams to develop mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems that exceed customer expectations.
  
  

Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a DoD SECRET clearance.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement
  
  

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.