General Dynamics

Deputy Program Manager, Engineering (DPME) Future Combatants and Mission Systems (FCMS)

General Dynamics$135K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field plus 5 years relevant experience; or a Master's degree plus 3 years relevant experience.
  • Must obtain a Department of Defense Secret clearance after hire.
  • U.S. citizenship required; local candidates only for onsite role in Pittsfield, MA.
  • Experience with Agile execution and systems engineering practices is a plus.
  • Background in project management methodologies and Earned Value Management (EVM) preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the engineering process from project inception to fleet deployment.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive engineering plans.
  • Ensure timely delivery of high-quality engineering documentation and deliverables.
  • Oversee system integration and validation testing for operational readiness.
  • Implement performance measures and corrective actions for technical issues.
  • Manage technical risks and changes to protect program parameters.
  • Facilitate collaboration across diverse teams to enhance mission-capability delivery.

Benefits

  • Work in a mission-focused environment contributing directly to U.S. Navy capabilities.
  • Opportunity to lead cross-functional engineering initiatives.
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and innovative engineering practices.
  • Employee development through lessons-learned and AI-enabled insights.
  • Engaging workplace culture emphasizing accountability and urgency.
Full Job Description
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. Candidate must be able to work onsite. 

Responsibilities for this Position

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) is seeking a highly skilled, motivated, and mission-focused Deputy Program Manager, Engineering (DPME) to join the Future Combatants and Mission Systems (FCMS) business area.

FCMS is at the forefront of designing, integrating, testing, and delivering mission systems for the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. Our teams help transform operational needs into capable, fleet-ready solutions—rapidly designing, integrating, and deploying critical products and upgrades to ships and Sailors. This is an opportunity to lead engineering across a dynamic portfolio that directly advances the surface-warfare capability the Fleet depends on. 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.

Position Overview

 

  • The DPME is a key engineering leader responsible for guiding projects from concept through delivery and fleet deployment. You will lead cross-functional engineering execution to ensure technically sound, high-quality mission capabilities are designed, integrated, tested, and delivered on schedule and within program commitments. The successful candidate will combine disciplined systems engineering and program execution with a strong sense of ownership, urgency, and commitment to Fleet readiness.

     

  • Key Responsibilities

    • Lead engineering execution from project initiation through integration, test, delivery, and fleet deployment.
    • Develop and maintain engineering plans that align technical requirements, customer needs, schedules, budgets, and delivery objectives.
    • Ensure engineering deliverables and technical documentation are complete, compliant, high quality, and delivered on schedule.
    • Validate system requirements and oversee system integration, verification, test, and readiness for operational use.
    • Establish and analyze engineering performance measures; implement corrective actions to resolve technical and programmatic issues.
    • Drive proactive technical risk, opportunity, and engineering change management to protect scope, cost, schedule, and customer commitments.
    • Lead collaboration across engineering, program management, operations, supply chain, test, installation, and customer organizations to accelerate mission-capability delivery.
    • Conduct lessons-learned activities and identify AI-enabled opportunities that improve engineering quality, efficiency, insight, and speed of execution.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

 

  • Technical and Analytical

    • Strong problem-solving ability in complex, multi-disciplinary engineering and program environments.
    • Experience applying systems engineering and project management practices across multiple life cycles, including Agile execution.
    • Working knowledge of program performance and control methods, including SPI, CPI, Earned Value Management (EVM), Cost Account Management (CAM), and Statistical Process Control.
    • Ability to balance rapid execution with disciplined engineering, quality, system verification, cybersecurity, and mission readiness.
    • Ability to anticipate technology, process, and workforce needs that support program execution and growth.

    Leadership and Communication

    • Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams, align stakeholders, resolve conflicts, and manage competing priorities.
    • Strong communication, organizational, planning, and time-management skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical and programmatic information to diverse audiences.
    • Commitment to delivering reliable, mission-critical capability to the Fleet with urgency and accountability.

    Preferred Technical Skills and Experience

    The ideal candidate brings systems engineering leadership and practical experience with shipboard infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, virtualization, and fleet delivery. Candidates are not expected to possess every skill listed; technical leadership and the ability to develop expertise rapidly are highly valued.

    • Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE): Experience with TSCE architectures, software-baseline updates, engineering changes, MBSE tools such as Cameo or MagicDraw, cross-class configuration management, and fleet availability coordination.
    • Virtualization and infrastructure: Experience with VMware vSphere, ESXi, vCenter, clustering, virtual-machine lifecycle management, server consolidation, SAN storage, and isolated-network services such as Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP.
    • Networking and communications: Cisco CCNA-level knowledge or equivalent experience with switches, routers, firewalls, VPNs, VLANs, network segmentation, SATCOM, and multi-enclave shipboard network design.
    • Cybersecurity and accreditation: CompTIA Security+-level knowledge or equivalent experience with DISA STIGs, secure configuration management, vulnerability remediation, cyber-resilient design, Navy/DoD authorization processes, encryption, and IDS/IPS capabilities.
    • Software and automation: Experience with Python, Bash, PowerShell, Git/GitLab, Ansible, VMware PowerCLI, CI/CD concepts, and container technologies.
    • Systems engineering at scale: Experience leading full-lifecycle systems engineering, Agile IPT execution, engineering change management, and development of BOEs, POA&Ms, BOMs, technical risk assessments, and mitigation plans.

     

Candidate must be local to area and able to work onsite in Pittsfield, MA. 

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Salary NoteThis 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 RangeUSD $135,396.00 - USD $150,205.00 /Yr.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics is involved in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat vehicles and systems, armaments, and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technologies. General Dynamics has four main business segments. Aerospace designs, develops, manufacturers and services a comprehensive offering of advanced business-jet aircraft. Combat Systems specializes in producing, supporting and sustaining land and expeditionary combat systems for the U.S. military and its allies. Marine Systems designs, builds and supports submarines and a variety of surface ships for the U.S. Navy and commercial customers. The Information Systems and Technology group offers a breadth and depth of technology and service capabilities that support a wide range of government and commercial needs, including systems integration expertise; hardware and software products; and engineering, management and support services.

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Learn more about General Dynamics
Size
103,100 employees
Market Cap
$67.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1952
5 Year Trend
+4.7%
Revenue
$37.9 billion
NASDAQ

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