Senior Technical Program Manager - Aerospace & Radar SystemsEmployment Type: Full-Time
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Industry: Aerospace, Defense & Advanced Technology
Program Focus: Stratospheric Balloon Systems, Radar Technology & Government Programs
Position OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Program Manager to lead complex aerospace, stratospheric balloon, and radar programs from initial customer engagement through development, execution, and delivery.
This position will have responsibility for
program cost, schedule, technical performance, customer satisfaction, and business objectives. The Senior Technical Program Manager will serve as a primary technical and program interface between customers, engineering teams, operations, contracts, supply chain, and business development.
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing complex engineering and systems development programs, a strong technical background, and demonstrated success working with
U.S. Government customers, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD) or Intelligence Community. This individual must be capable of translating customer requirements into technical solutions while supporting business development, program growth, and long-term customer relationships.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Program Management & Execution
- Lead complex aerospace, radar, and advanced technology programs from concept through execution and delivery
- Maintain responsibility for program cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer satisfaction
- Develop and manage program plans, schedules, budgets, and performance objectives
- Monitor program execution against established cost and schedule baselines
- Identify program risks and implement corrective actions to maintain performance objectives
- Coordinate engineering, operations, contracts, supply chain, and business development activities
- Ensure program deliverables meet contractual requirements and customer expectations
- Provide technical and program leadership throughout the complete program lifecycle
- Develop and deliver program status reports, financial updates, and executive presentations
Systems Engineering & Technical Leadership
- Translate customer needs into detailed technical and system-level requirements
- Guide system architecture, product roadmaps, technical tradeoffs, and integration decisions
- Collaborate with engineering teams to develop innovative technical solutions
- Participate in engineering design reviews and technical evaluations
- Ensure proposed solutions align with customer requirements and engineering best practices
- Support technical decision-making involving system performance, cost, schedule, and operational requirements
- Coordinate technical activities across multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Evaluate emerging technologies and potential applications for existing and future programs
- Provide technical guidance throughout product development, system integration, and program execution
Government Programs & Contract Management
- Support programs involving U.S. Government, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community customers
- Apply working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
- Navigate government acquisition processes, including requirements development, RFPs, source selection, contracting, and program execution
- Ensure contractual obligations and technical requirements are understood and executed
- Coordinate with contracts and supply chain teams to support government program compliance
- Ensure applicable contractual requirements are communicated to suppliers and subcontractors
- Support procurement planning and long-lead material acquisition
- Monitor contractual deliverables, program milestones, and customer requirements
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve contract-related and program execution challenges
Customer Engagement & Business Development
- Serve as the primary technical and program point of contact for customers and internal leadership
- Build and maintain strong relationships with government customers, partners, and stakeholders
- Lead customer discussions involving technical requirements, program performance, and future capabilities
- Support business development, capture planning, and proposal development
- Shape technical approaches during concept development and proposal activities
- Identify opportunities to expand existing programs and develop new applications
- Collaborate with customers and partners to develop innovative aerospace and radar solutions
- Support customer strategy, product development priorities, and long-term business growth
- Represent the organization at customer meetings, industry events, and technology forums
Financial Management & Program Performance
- Develop and maintain program budgets, forecasts, and financial performance reports
- Monitor program expenditures and evaluate cost performance against established objectives
- Identify financial and operational risks that could impact program delivery
- Implement corrective actions to address cost, schedule, and performance challenges
- Support resource planning and financial decision-making throughout the program lifecycle
- Balance technical requirements, customer expectations, financial objectives, and operational priorities
- Communicate program financial performance and potential risks to senior leadership
Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Development
- Lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations, contracts, supply chain, and business development
- Establish clear program objectives, responsibilities, and performance expectations
- Facilitate collaboration between technical and nontechnical stakeholders
- Mentor less-experienced program managers and support professional development
- Contribute to the development and implementation of program management best practices
- Promote accountability, effective communication, and continuous improvement
- Provide leadership and direction in complex technical and operational environments
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline
- 10+ years of relevant professional experience
- 4+ years of demonstrated technical program management leadership experience
- Experience leading complex engineering, systems development, or advanced technology programs
- Strong technical background with the ability to engage effectively with engineering and systems development teams
- Direct experience working with U.S. Government customers, particularly DoD or Intelligence Community organizations
- Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS requirements
- Understanding of the U.S. Government acquisition lifecycle, including requirements development, RFPs, source selection, contracting, and program execution
- Experience managing program budgets, schedules, technical performance, and contractual deliverables
- Strong understanding of program financial management, forecasting, and performance reporting
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering and operational teams
- Demonstrated ability to translate customer requirements into technical solutions
- Experience supporting customer engagement, technical proposals, or business development activities
- Strong risk management, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong presentation, negotiation, and customer relationship management abilities
- Ability to independently manage complex programs and make sound technical and business decisions
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline
- MBA
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
- Experience managing engineering teams or technical organizations
- Direct experience with stratospheric balloon systems, radar technology, or aerospace programs
- Experience supporting defense, intelligence, or other advanced government technology programs
- Prior military or government experience
- Experience supporting government capture, proposal development, and new business opportunities
- Experience influencing product architecture, technology roadmaps, and system integration strategies
- Experience managing complex supplier relationships and long-lead procurement activities
- Demonstrated success expanding customer relationships and identifying program growth opportunities
Candidate Must-Haves- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline
- 10+ years of relevant experience
- Minimum 4 years of technical program management leadership experience
- Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering or systems development programs
- Direct experience supporting U.S. Government, DoD, or Intelligence Community customers
- Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS
- Strong understanding of government acquisition and contracting processes
- Experience managing program cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer deliverables
- Strong systems engineering or technical background
- Experience leading cross-functional engineering and operational teams
- Demonstrated program financial management, budgeting, and forecasting capabilities
- Experience translating customer requirements into technical and system-level solutions
- Strong customer-facing communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
- Ability to support business development, technical proposals, and program growth initiatives
- Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making capabilities
