Find & Apply For Program Manager Jobs in Mukilteo, Washington

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Tactical Missiles and Integrated Defense Systems business, which designs and develops integrated missile and defense systems that support critical missions across air, land, and sea. We combine comprehensive analysis, engineering, and program execution capabilities to deliver mission-tailored solutions that reduce lead times, lower costs, and simplify complex multi-vendor supply chains. Backed by decades of flight-proven and fielded performance, we design and build mission-critical technologies including launch systems, propulsion, payload integration solutions, UAV components, missile subsystems, and Safe & Arm systems.

The Program Manager leads assigned defense programs from development through qualification, production, and delivery. The role drives execution across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, contracts, finance, and test to achieve cost, schedule, technical, and contractual commitments. This position plays a central role in coordinating customer communication, managing risks, supporting key reviews, and ensuring program performance that meets mission and hardware requirements.

Responsibilities Leads assigned programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion. Manages performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives. Develops and maintains integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource needs, and performance metrics. Coordinates crossfunctional execution across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and test. Serves as a primary interface for customers, prime contractors, government stakeholders, suppliers, and internal leadership. Identifies technical, programmatic, supplychain, cost, and schedule risks and drives mitigation and recovery actions. Leads recurring program reviews and communicates financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and required actions. Supports design reviews, testreadiness reviews, qualification activities, productionreadiness reviews, and customer acceptance events. Manages contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes. Supports proposals, estimates, negotiations, followon opportunities, and programgrowth activities.

Required Qualifications Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Business Program Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience. 5 or more years of experience supporting or managing aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex technical programs. A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Preferred Qualifications Master of Science or Master of Business Administration degree. Experience managing Department of Defense, U.S. government, allieddefense, or primecontractor programs. Experience with missile systems, propulsion, launch systems, payload integration, separation systems, energetic devices, or related flight hardware. Experience managing programs from development through qualification and production. Knowledge of government contracting and fixedprice, costreimbursable, or incentivebased contract structures. Experience with Earned Value Management, costaccount management, or similar financialperformance methods. Experience supporting proposals, estimates, negotiations, contract modifications, or followon program capture. Project Management Professional certification or equivalent formal programmanagement training. Experience with program scheduling, enterprise resource planning, or productlifecycle management systems. Experience leading engineering teams developing mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems.

Benefits Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Paid time off Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Companypaid life and AD&D insurance Short and longterm disability coverage Tuition reimbursementKarman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. This role follows a 9/80 schedule, with 9-hour shifts Monday through Thursday, an 8-hour shift every other Friday, and the alternating Friday off.