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Senior Lead Program Manager

Thales


Job Location:

Austin, TX - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 105261 - 205275
Posted: 1 October 2026 (11 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 29 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Location: Austin United States of America

Thales people architect identity management and data protection solutions at the heart of digital security. Business and governments rely on us to bring trust to the billions of digital interactions they have with people. Our technologies and services help banks exchange funds people cross borders energy become smarter and much more. More than 30000 organizations already rely on us to verify the identities of people and things grant access to digital services analyze vast quantities of information and encrypt data to make the connected world more secure.

This is a hybrid position in Austin TX

Position Summary

The Lead Strategic Program Manager is a senior individual contributor within Cybersecurity Products Engineering who leads the organizations highest-impact cross-functional strategic programs from definition through execution. The role partners with Engineering Product Finance Security Sales Legal HR and Talent Acquisition to establish governance executive reporting resource and investment plans and scalable operating frameworks. The incumbent serves as a trusted advisor who brings financial and operational rigor challenges assumptions influences senior stakeholders without formal authority and drives measurable business outcomes.

Essential Functions

  • Own and drive CSPs highest-priority strategic programs including compliance and certification organizational expansion and cross-functional transformation initiatives from business case through delivery.
  • Define program scope governance success metrics roadmaps commitments timelines risks dependencies and cross-functional trade-offs.
  • Build investment business cases that quantify ARR impact cost and risk and secure leadership sponsorship.
  • Translate executive priorities into operating cadence program plans resourcing decisions and executive- or board-level materials.
  • Present program status risks recommendations and decisions to senior leadership.
  • Partner with Finance on budgets labor allocation discretionary spend planning and forecasting.
  • Apply data-driven analysis to workforce strategy resource allocation portfolio prioritization and organizational planning.
  • Design scalable frameworks for hiring talent reviews planning cycles and distributed global-team growth.
  • Coordinate Engineering Finance Legal Security Sales HR and Talent Acquisition across multi-quarter initiatives.
  • Bring structure and clarity to ambiguous problems through governance cadence reporting and decision frameworks.


Minimum Requirements


  • Bachelors degree in business Finance Accounting or a related field with a minimum of 8-12 years of relevant work experience or Masters degree in Business Finance Accounting or a related field with 6 years of relevant work experience.
  • 10 years of strategic program management business/strategic operations or comparable cross-functional leadership experience in technology cybersecurity or software engineering.
  • Demonstrated leadership of complex multi-stakeholder programs from business case through execution including compliance or regulatory programs or comparable strategic initiatives.
  • Strong financial acumen in budget management forecasting and investment business cases.
  • Proven ability to create executive- and board-level communications and present to senior leadership.
  • Experience partnering with Finance HR/Talent Acquisition Engineering and Security leaders to scale operational frameworks.
  • Experience supporting organizational or geographic expansion workforce planning and location business cases.
  • Exceptional ability to operate in ambiguity and align teams without direct authority.


Preferred Qualifications


  • MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
  • Direct experience with FedRAMP Common Criteria or another cybersecurity or government compliance authorization program.
  • Experience in a matrixed global engineering organization including international hiring transition or footprint expansion.
  • Background in financial analysis or accounting before moving into program or operations leadership.
  • Experience producing Board of Directors or C-suite advance materials.



Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.


If youre excited about working with Thales but not meeting the requirements for this position we encourage you to join our Talent Community! can upload your CV and our recruiters can get in touch with any new opportunities that may be of interest to you.


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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified consistent with federal law state law and local ordinances.

Thales champions inclusion and we believe diversity strengthens the fabric of our culture. Thales is an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veterans.


If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales please contact us at .


The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target is between


Total Target Cash (TTC) 105261.00 - 205275.00 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including but not limited to the employees career path history competencies skills and performance as well as the companys annual salary budget the customers program requirements and the companys internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation depending on circumstances not related to an applicants status protected by local state or federal law.


(For Internal candidate if you need more information please raise HR request through MyThales)

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents including the following:


Elective Health Dental Vision FSA/HSA Voluntary Life and AD&D Whole Group Life w/LTC Critical Illness Hospital Indemnity Accident Insurance Legal Plan Identity Theft and Pet Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match and with no vesting period

Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

Company provided Life Insurance AD&D Disability Employee Assistance Plan and Well-being Program


Required Experience:

Senior IC


About Company

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In all critical environments - air, land, sea, space and cyberspace - decision-makers, operators, crews and members of our armed services and security forces are faced with millions of important decisions every day. It is in supporting these people that Thales in the United States ha ... View more

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