Program Manager

Position Title:Program Manager
Requisition ID:1792
Position Location:Sterling VA
Position Reports To:Product Line Director/Director of Programs
Supervises Others:No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD Intelligence Community and Civil space customers. We develop complex radiation effects mitigated designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for leading the execution of one or more technically complex hardware development programs owning performance across cost schedule risk and customer satisfaction. This role requires demonstrated experience running technical projects independently but not yet overseeing large-scale portfolios or mentoring entire PM teams.

The Program Manager serves as a primary customer interface leads cross-functional execution coordinates technical and programmatic activities manages subcontractors and ensures all contractual and internal commitments are met. This role is ideal for a hands-on Program Manager who thrives in hardware development environments and is progressing toward leadership of larger flight programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Program Leadership & Customer Engagement
  • Serve as the primary customer-facing representative for assigned programs.
  • Lead recurring customer meetings technical interchange meetings program status reviews and action-item follow-ups.
  • Deliver clear timely communication on program performance risks and issues to customers and internal leadership.
  • Maintain strong customer relationships resolve concerns and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Program Execution & Contract Compliance
  • Manage all aspects of program execution including cost schedule deliverables and technical scope.
  • Ensure alignment with Statements of Work (SOW) specifications and contract requirements.
  • Coordinate with Engineering Operations Supply Chain Finance Quality and Contracts to meet program commitments.
  • Support contract modifications funding actions and customer-directed scope changes.
• Financial Management
  • Develop and maintain program budgets Estimates at Completion (EACs) and financial forecasts.
  • Track labor material subcontractor costs and actuals versus plan.
  • Identify and analyze variances recommend corrective actions and prepare monthly financial reporting inputs.
• Schedule Management
  • Build and maintain integrated program schedules using Microsoft Project.
  • Identify critical path dependencies resource constraints and schedule risks.
  • Forecast milestone completion and create recovery plans when deviations occur.
• Risk Issue and Opportunity Management
  • Maintain program risk registers including mitigation strategies owners and closure plans.
  • Facilitate routine risk and issue reviews with cross-functional teams.
  • Identify opportunities to improve cost schedule technical performance or customer value.
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  • Lead integrated program teams across Engineering Manufacturing Quality Supply Chain and other support functions.
  • Develop staffing plans and communicate resource needs to functional managers.
  • Drive accountability clarity and coordination across technical and programmatic stakeholders.
  • Mentor and support the development of Associate Program Managers providing guidance on execution fundamentals communication practices and PM best practices.
• Subcontractor and Supplier Management
  • Develop inputs for Statements of Work (SOWs) and requirements packages.
  • Monitor subcontractor execution schedule performance and deliverables.
  • Coordinate supplier issue resolution and ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Business Development Support
  • Provide programmatic input to proposals schedules cost estimates and risk assessments.
  • Support customer meetings fact-finding and transition activities during proposal phases.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Business or equivalent experience / combined education
• 6 years of related experience with a bachelors degree OR 4 years with a masters degree (OR 10 years in lieu of a degree)
• Experience in program management and/or technical project leadership.
• Experience leading hardware development programs in aerospace defense space or electronics environments.
• Strong understanding of contracts SOWs milestones and compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project Excel PowerPoint and Word.
• PMP certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Experience leading programs from design prototype production.
• Strong analytical organizational and problemsolving abilities.
• Strong MS Office skills especially Word Excel Project and Power Point
  • Excel Establish and maintain budgetary baselines track actual expenditures forecast future costs
  • Project Establish and maintain a program schedule to show critical path tracks customer and internal milestones identifies time phases of resource needs can be used for reporting internally and externally
  • Word Creating and updating documents for delivery to the customer provide to subcontractors for direction and respond to internal requirements for documentation
  • Power Point Creating presentations for program status design reviews and other meetings both internally and externally
• Strong oral and written communication skills in order to clearly and effectively convey issues status reports risk assessment quality management data validation and interface with a highly technical engineering and leadership staff
• Familiarity with manufacturing in an electronics environment

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D accident critical illness hospital and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA FSA and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental maternity and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process please contact.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)