Job Description

BAE Systems is seeking a strategic and experienced Director I-Program to manage, coordinate, and execute a complex collection of USAF sustainment projects. This role is responsible for the overarching achievement of financial, schedule, technical, and new business performance objectives. The Director will integrate operational execution with the organization's technical roadmap and long-term business strategy, providing senior leadership to ensure the successful delivery of legacy USAF avionics and electronic warfare (EW) systems.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Program Governance & Strategic Execution
The Director is accountable for the comprehensive planning, organization, and control of a collection of projects, ensuring that all financial, schedule, and technical objectives are met with precision. By establishing and overseeing rigorous management frameworks, the Director promotes operational excellence and efficiency in readiness and sustainment while modeling and demonstrating exemplary leadership in ethics, safety, and security across all managed programs.
Strategic Leadership & Business Alignment
This role defines program objectives that are strictly aligned with customer requirements and BAE Systems' Integrated Business Plan (IBP), ensuring that program execution supports the broader strategic technology roadmap. The Director plays a critical role in the development of company financial plans and contributes high-level strategic insight to ensure the long-term organizational viability of the I&S sector.
Customer Engagement & External Liaison
Serving as a prime external spokesperson and high-level contact for the organization, the Director interacts frequently with senior-level customer representatives and management to resolve contractual clarifications and operational decisions. Through the leadership of critical briefings and meetings for internal and external stakeholders, the Director influences and shapes customer requirements to ensure that delivered solutions are innovative and strategically positioned for future growth.
Business Development & Growth
The Director directs capture teams to position the business for strategic wins and the expansion of the customer base. This includes leading the development of robust business cases and the submission of competitive, innovative proposals, while proactively identifying and executing opportunities to meet new business performance and growth targets.
Operational & Resource Management
The Director oversees program scope, budget, and critical path scheduling to ensure that all technical investments are financially sound and that prototype fabrication, testing, and qualification are completed on time. This role carries direct people-management responsibility, focusing on the optimization of program resources and the cultivation of the technical competencies necessary to execute complex solutions.
Continuous Improvement & Policy Development
By establishing and sharing best practices and lessons learned, the Director continuously improves people, processes, and products to foster a culture of excellence. Furthermore, the Director develops and implements operational programs and processes that serve as the organizational precedent for future decision-making and strategic implementation.

Required Skills and Education

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in a technical or business field.
• Experience: 10+ years of demonstrated experience leading diverse, multi-discipline project teams in a high-tempo environment.
• Leadership: Proven experience in direct people management and leading large-scale, complex collections of projects.
• Project Management: Expert-level proficiency in program planning, risk and opportunity management, and Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Contractual Knowledge: Deep experience with DoD contract execution, specifically within IDIQ/Task Order environments.
• Technical Background: Experience with technical product sustainment (hardware, software, and systems) and reverse engineering/prototyping.
• Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to lead high-stakes briefings for senior executive and government leadership.
• Tools: Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, specifically high-level experience with Excel and MS Project.
• Clearance: Active Secret security clearance is required.

Preferred Skills and Education

• Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Financial Systems: Experience with Deltek Costpoint.
• Process Improvement: Lean Six-Sigma or general process improvement experience.
• Domain Expertise: Familiarity with avionics and EW systems, and DoD acquisition.
• Quality Standards: Understanding of AS9145 quality management processes.
• Customer Experience: Prior experience working with government customers such as AFSC and PAE Electronic Systems.