Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required plus a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Department of Defense Secret security clearance is preferred at time of hire. Candidates must be able to obtain a clearance within a reasonable amount of time from date of 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.

The Deputy Program Manager of Operations plays a crucial role in both the development and execution of our projects. This role requires a strong technical background in manufacturing engineering processes, product lifecycle management, as well as the ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively. The ideal candidate will have manufacturing technical skills, excellent negotiation and communication skills, capable of driving both strategic planning and hands-on execution to meet manufacturing objectives. Key responsibilities include developing and executing proposal plans, managing risks and opportunities, driving product acceptance, and balancing project plans with executable strategies. You'll also conduct reviews, develop product strategies, maintain customer relationships, manage product configurations, and oversee profit and loss. Collaboration with the program office, engineering, and operations teams is essential to ensure resource alignment with goals. Proficiency in developing and implementing strategies, tracking progress, and analyzing project financial data is crucial. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional decision-making and negotiation skills, with a deep understanding of manufacturing engineering processes, product lifecycle management, and technical project management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute comprehensive project plans, ensuring alignment with manufacturing and operational goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams in a matrix organization to achieve schedule, cost, and technical performance objectives.
• Oversee the integration, testing, and verification of manufacturing processes to ensure product quality and reliability.
• Develop and maintain customer relationships, manage product configurations, and oversee profit and loss.
• Conduct regular reviews, track progress, and implement corrective actions to address any issues.
• Drive product acceptance and balance project plans with executable strategies.
• Collaborate with program office, engineering, and operations teams to align resources with project goals.
• Develop and implement strategies, track progress, and analyze project financial data.

Duties and Tasks:

• Develop cohesive project plans, authorize work, and manage cost, schedule, and technical performance of projects (products, services, and supplier content).
• Coordinate interdepartmental activities to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
• Lead department or cross-functional project teams in a matrix organization to achieve schedule, cost, and technical performance objectives.
• Identify issues, track progress, and follow through on corrective actions.
• Support customers and suppliers with technical questions regarding products.
• Lead the team in forecasting project cost and schedule completion based on performance trends.
• Prepare and present project status updates to leadership.
• Identify and manage risks and opportunities, leading mitigation and capture activities.
• Develop and execute proposal plans and strategies for assigned projects.
• Develop negotiation plans and lead customer and supplier negotiations for projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes and product lifecycle management.
• Solid knowledge of work estimating, allocation, scheduling, and authorization.
• Ability to generate cohesive project plans and track work progress.
• Ability to identify issues, track progress, and implement effective corrective actions based on data analysis and trends.
• Ability to understand and analyze project financial data.
• Solid understanding of risk and opportunity management principles and their application to projects and suppliers.
• Ability to lead teams in a matrix organization to achieve schedule, cost, and technical performance objectives.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proactive decision-making abilities.
• Ability to develop and execute proposal plans and strategies.
• Negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Project, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• May be required to travel.
• Identifies opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation.

Preferred Technical Skills:

• Experience with high-reliability manufacturing processes and material procurement.
• Familiarity with space hardware, space acceptance test planning, and space material qualification.
• Lean manufacturing experience.