Lead Program Manager

STR

$168K — $205K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of program management experience, ideally in national security or defense sectors.
  • Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.
  • Experience managing technical projects, including risk management and milestone tracking.
  • Strong communication skills with ability to bridge technical and non-technical discussions.
  • Prior experience interacting with senior decision-makers in defense or intelligence settings.
  • Familiarity with software development practices and knowledge of DoD/IC acquisition processes.
  • Located near STR offices in specified locations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional teams in identifying mission requirements and technical priorities.
  • Monitor program schedules, milestones, and performance while managing associated risks.
  • Ensure timely delivery of products while fostering collaboration across various technical teams.
  • Identify and mitigate risks through collaboration with technical staff and engineers.
  • Analyze and synthesize data to communicate project status and trends to stakeholders.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with both internal and external customers.
  • Manage personnel across diverse technical areas to meet program goals.

Benefits

  • Flexible, hybrid work environment with remote options when applicable.
  • Opportunity to work on critical national security programs and initiatives.
  • Engagement in collaborative problem-solving with experts across various disciplines.
  • Access to professional development opportunities in a dynamic field.
  • Significant role in shaping solutions for complex mission-driven challenges.
Full Job Description
Lead Program Manager

The Role:

As a Program Manager (PM) in the Mission Applications Group, we are looking for a leader who is passionate about collaborative problem solving and working on the hardest national security problems. The PM will manage a portfolio of programs specifically focused on delivering operational prototypes to motivated customers. This work includes managing all program phases, from marketing to proposal development, from contract initiation to execution, and from program close-out to transition. The PM will also support business operations across the portfolio to enable successful execution. The PM will likely play critical roles in supporting multiple efforts in the Analytics and C2 Division and potentially in other Divisions in STR.

This includes:
  • Work with our government customers and multi-contractor technical teams to identify mission requirements and prioritize technical development
  • Tracking the program schedule and milestones, coordinating with the STR business operations teams, communicating with our customers, and tracking program performance and risk
  • Support timely, successful deliveries of products to the customer and routinely collaborate across multi-disciplined teams to support STR technical leads and other key stakeholders
  • Working with the product manager, technical staff, mission engineers, subcontractors, and support personnel to identify and address risks and issues
  • Gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing data from multiple sources, such as project reports, project staff, and customer feedback to understand and communicate status and to identify trends
  • Interacting with external program customers and internal company leadership
  • Managing scientists, engineers, and technicians across broad areas of expertise
  • Achieving cost, schedule, and customer objectives on operational programs
  • Working in a fast-paced environment to enable successful contract execution
  • Building strong customer relationships and establishing open lines of communication

This role will take advantage of STR's flexible, hybrid environment - when the work does not require use of STR's facilities, you are welcome to work remotely.

Who You Are:
  • Program Management experience, military experience, or similar background with the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community
  • Experience in managing technical projects, developing tasks/sub-tasks, identifying & tracking program risk
  • Motivated collaborator comfortable communicating to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • History of interacting with decision-makers and customers to translate mission needs into end-to-end analytical solutions
  • A U.S. citizen and have ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
  • Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance with SCI Eligibility
  • Located near STR office in Carlsbad, CA, Arlington, VA, Woburn, MA, or Denver, CO


Even Better:
  • Prior experience in a leadership role of a technical program for the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community
  • Experience working and collaborating on multi-disciplinary teams, including leading technical teams and mentoring less experienced staff
  • Knowledge of software development best practices and tools
  • Experience spanning all project phases, from ideation to technology research and product development
  • Working knowledge of DoD or IC mission and acquisition processes
  • Technical breadth and a demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple, technically diverse programs and teams.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit and eager to engage in technical marketing and business development
  • Located near STR office in Carlsbad, CA


Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $168,000 - $205,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

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