Job description

Senior Technical Program Manager, IRAD Programs Function: Program Management / New Product Development Reports to: Director of Program Management) Position Overview Lead the execution and governance of internally funded research and development (IRAD) programs that mature hardware-based aerospace and defense technologies and prepare products for future market opportunities. This senior individual-contributor position manages approximately two to three concurrent development programs, from newly authorized efforts to programs already in progress, with an anticipated combined portfolio value of approximately $3 million to $10 million. The role requires technical fluency, disciplined program controls, sound judgment about development scope and completion criteria, and effective communication with senior executives. The program manager coordinates engineering and other subject-matter experts but does not directly design, develop, or test products. Key Responsibilities • Independently lead multiple internally funded technical development programs, owning scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, deliverables, risks, opportunities, and performance against approved objectives. • Establish and maintain integrated program schedules, cost controls, risk and opportunity registers, action plans, and phase-gate / tollgate deliverables; apply earned value or comparable performance-management practices as appropriate. • Coordinate matrixed teams across engineering, testing, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, finance, and other disciplines; negotiate access to shared personnel, facilities, and test resources without direct supervisory authority. • Manage technology maturation and technology readiness level (TRL) progression; collaborate with technical experts on development priorities, decision points, and practical go/no-go recommendations. • Prepare clear, accurate program-health dashboards and executive updates covering schedule, financial performance, technical progress, resource needs, and risks; present information to senior business leadership. • Support alignment of IRAD investments with product-development priorities and market opportunities, coordinating with finance, business development, and technical leadership on business cases and transition opportunities. • Use established organizational procedures, phase-gate controls, and applicable safety, quality, and export-control requirements; support process improvements and lessons learned. • Adapt plans and priorities as technical discoveries, resource availability, and business needs evolve. Required Qualifications • Approximately 7 or more years of relevant program or project management experience, with substantial responsibility for technical development programs; equivalent depth of experience and relevant credentials will be considered. • Prior experience in the aerospace and defense industry and sufficient engineering or technical knowledge to understand hardware product-development fundamentals and work credibly with technical specialists. • Demonstrated ability to lead multiple concurrent technical programs and coordinate shared resources in a matrix environment. • Experience with integrated schedules, cost control, risk/opportunity management, and structured program governance. • Experience managing technology maturation and TRL-related development objectives. • Proficiency with Microsoft Project and Power BI or closely comparable program-management and reporting tools. • Strong executive-level communication, stakeholder management, prioritization, and independent decision-making skills. • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, a technical discipline, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience and professional certifications accepted in lieu of a degree. • Due to U.S. Government contract requirements applicable to this position, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment in this role. Preferred Qualifications • PMP, PMI-ACP, Lean/Six Sigma, or related program-management credentials. • Direct IRAD, new product development, or other internally funded technology-development program experience. • Familiarity with stage-gate new product development, manufacturing readiness levels (MRL), and DoD acquisition environments. • Experience with energetics, ordnance, propulsion, energetic-electronic products, or related regulated hardware development. • Knowledge of explosives safety, hazard classification, applicable DoD technical standards, and export-controlled development environments; specialized procedures can be learned after hire. • Experience coordinating the maturation or transition of internally developed technology into future customer-funded opportunities. Measures of Success • Independently assumes primary program ownership after onboarding and successfully manages scope, budget, schedules, and risk. • Delivers program milestones and phase-gate decisions with disciplined financial and technical oversight. • Advances technology readiness while maintaining realistic scope and effective use of shared resources. • Provides concise, reliable executive-level program reporting and timely escalation of issues. • Maintains safety, quality, and regulatory compliance while adapting to changing priorities. Work Environment Fully on-site, Monday through Friday. Daily hours align with the assigned engineering teams. Occasional travel (approximately 5%) may include Chandler, AZ; Hollister, CA; and potentially Solon, OH. The role operates in a collaborative, fast-changing, hardware-development environment. Relocation assistance may be considered for a qualified candidate, subject to approval. #LI-FP1

Requirements

Must-haves

Senior Technical Program Manager, IRAD Programs
Function: Program Management / New Product Development
Reports to: Director of Program Management)
Position Overview
Independently lead multiple internally funded technical development programs, owning scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, deliverables, risks, opportunities, and performance against approved objectives.
Manage technology maturation and technology readiness level (TRL) progression; collaborate with technical experts on development priorities, decision points, and practical go/no-go recommendations.
Prepare clear, accurate program-health dashboards and executive updates covering schedule, financial performance, technical progress, resource needs, and risks; present information to senior business leadership.
Use established organizational procedures, phase-gate controls, and applicable safety, quality, and export-control requirements; support process improvements and lessons learned.
Adapt plans and priorities as technical discoveries, resource availability, and business needs evolve.
Prior experience in the aerospace and defense industry and sufficient engineering or technical knowledge to understand hardware product-development fundamentals and work credibly with technical specialists.
Demonstrated ability to lead multiple concurrent technical programs and coordinate shared resources in a matrix environment.
Experience with integrated schedules, cost control, risk/opportunity management, and structured program governance.

Nice-to-haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, a technical discipline, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience and professional certifications accepted in lieu of a degree.
PMP, PMI-ACP, Lean/Six Sigma, or related program-management credentials.
Direct IRAD, new product development, or other internally funded technology-development program experience.
Familiarity with stage-gate new product development, manufacturing readiness levels (MRL), and DoD acquisition environments.
Experience with energetics, ordnance, propulsion, energetic-electronic products, or related regulated hardware development.
Knowledge of explosives safety, hazard classification, applicable DoD technical standards, and export-controlled development environments; specialized procedures can be learned after hire.
Experience coordinating the maturation or transition of internally developed technology into future customer-funded opportunities.
Measures of Success
Independently assumes primary program ownership after onboarding and successfully manages scope, budget, schedules, and risk.
Delivers program milestones and phase-gate decisions with disciplined financial and technical oversight.
Advances technology readiness while maintaining realistic scope and effective use of shared resources.
Provides concise, reliable executive-level program reporting and timely escalation of issues.

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Keywords to mirror

Platform: oracle-cloud
Effort: medium