Role: Associate Program Manager

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation*: $105,000-$130,000 + benefits

Role Summary

This is a role for someone early in their career who wants to grow fast, work on things that matter, and build a foundation that most people spend a decade trying to find. You'll sit at the center of how Rivet operates - working alongside engineers, business development leads, finance, and executive leadership across every stage of how we build and deliver our products.

This role is designed to flex with you. Whether you grow toward program leadership, strategy, consulting, or business development, the skills you build here - cross-functional coordination, client-facing delivery, strategic planning, and performance management - are the core of every high-impact career path in defense tech and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Program Coordination & Execution - Support end-to-end program lifecycles, from planning through delivery, by helping coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, finance, and solution delivery. You'll learn how programs are structured, tracked, and closed, and take on increasing ownership as you grow.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Be the connective tissue between hardware teams, software teams, and business leadership. You'll facilitate communication, surface blockers, and help teams stay aligned - one of the most valuable and transferable skills you can develop early in your career.
• Strategic & Business Alignment - Help translate company goals into actionable plans by supporting the connection between technical execution and business objectives. You'll get early exposure to how a defense tech company thinks about strategy, customers, and growth.
• Performance Tracking & Reporting - Support the definition and monitoring of program KPIs and OKRs. Learn how to build data-driven reports and deliver insights that help leadership make better decisions - a skill set that carries into every senior role.
• Risk & Issue Management - Help identify risks across supply chain, hardware, software, and integration - and support the development of mitigation plans. You'll develop the habit of proactive problem-solving that separates great PMs from average ones.
• Budget & Resource Awareness - Gain hands-on exposure to how programs are resourced and budgeted. You'll support financial tracking and learn how to balance competing priorities across teams - foundational knowledge for any leadership path.
• Change & Stakeholder Management - Support teams through shifts in project scope, technology, or priorities. You'll build communication and influence skills that are central to consulting, program management, and business leadership alike.

What We're Looking For

• 1-3 years of experience in program coordination, project management, consulting, operations, or a related role - internships and co-ops count
• A natural organizer who can bring structure to ambiguous situations without waiting to be told what to do
• Strong communicator who can work across technical and non-technical audiences
• Curious, resourceful, and comfortable learning on the fly
• Some exposure to PM tools, project tracking, or agile workflows is a plus - not a requirement
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain a US Security Clearance

Why This Role Builds Your Career

The skills you'll develop here - cross-functional program management, defense industry knowledge, stakeholder communication, and data-driven decision support - are among the most portable and in-demand in both the defense and commercial sectors. Junior PMs who come through fast-moving defense tech companies routinely move into senior PM, strategy, BD, and consulting roles in 3-5 years. At Rivet, you'll get there faster because you'll be doing real work from day one, not supporting someone else's work.

*Total compensation may vary within this range and is determined by years and level of relevant experience, job-related skills, education, and other factors. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for equity grants and other forms of compensation. Eligible employees also receive a competitive benefits package, including unlimited PTO.