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Karman Space & Defense
Program Manager
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What they do
A Program Manager manages ongoing program activity or a group of related projects for a company or organization. Responsibilities include developing program plans, defining project objectives, allocating resources, managing budgets, and monitoring program progress. They may work in production, administration, advertising/marketing, human resources, technology, finance, and other technical areas such as engineering.
$165,887 / year median in California
-1% projected decline
Job Description
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 supports our Defense Systems business, bringing together Hypersonics, Strategic Missile Defense, Tactical Missiles, and Integrated Defense Systems. Modern defense missions demand more than piecemeal parts or patchwork products; they require hardware that seamlessly integrates disparate technologies into a unified system. Backed by decades of flight-proven performance, our teams deliver tailored mission-ready solutions across air, land, and sea, including: launch and deployment systems, propulsion, payload protection, integration and deployment.
In this role, you will lead complex defense-focused programs from planning through delivery, ensuring cost, schedule, technical, quality, and customer objectives are met. You will coordinate cross-functional execution, guide program plans, manage risks, and serve as a primary customer interface while supporting the delivery of integrated missile, propulsion, launch, payload, and defense-system hardware.
ScheduleThe work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ResponsibilitiesLeads assigned programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
Owns performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives.
Develops and maintains integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and performance metrics.
Coordinates cross-functional 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 programmatic, technical, supply-chain, cost, and schedule risks and drives mitigation and recovery plans.
Leads recurring program reviews and communicates financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and corrective actions.
Supports design reviews, test-readiness reviews, qualification activities, production-readiness reviews, and customer acceptance events.
Manages contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes.
Supports proposals, estimates, contract negotiations, follow-on opportunities, and program-growth activities.
Required QualificationsBachelor of Science degree 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.
Preferred QualificationsMaster of Science degree or Master of Business Administration.
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 (EVM), costaccount management, or similar financialperformance methods.
Experience supporting proposals, estimates, negotiations, contract modifications, or followon program capture.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent formal programmanagement training.
Experience with program scheduling, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or productlifecycle management (PLM) systems.
Experience leading engineering teams developing mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems.
This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.
BenefitsMedical, dental, and vision insurance401(k) with company matchPaid time offHealth Savings Account (HSA) with company contributionFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA)Companypaid life and AD&D insuranceShort and longterm disability coverageTuition 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 supports our Defense Systems business, bringing together Hypersonics, Strategic Missile Defense, Tactical Missiles, and Integrated Defense Systems. Modern defense missions demand more than piecemeal parts or patchwork products; they require hardware that seamlessly integrates disparate technologies into a unified system. Backed by decades of flight-proven performance, our teams deliver tailored mission-ready solutions across air, land, and sea, including: launch and deployment systems, propulsion, payload protection, integration and deployment.
In this role, you will lead complex defense-focused programs from planning through delivery, ensuring cost, schedule, technical, quality, and customer objectives are met. You will coordinate cross-functional execution, guide program plans, manage risks, and serve as a primary customer interface while supporting the delivery of integrated missile, propulsion, launch, payload, and defense-system hardware.
ScheduleThe work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ResponsibilitiesLeads assigned programs through planning, development, qualification, production, delivery, and contract completion.
Owns performance against cost, schedule, technical, quality, contractual, and customer objectives.
Develops and maintains integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and performance metrics.
Coordinates cross-functional 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 programmatic, technical, supply-chain, cost, and schedule risks and drives mitigation and recovery plans.
Leads recurring program reviews and communicates financial performance, risks, decisions, dependencies, and corrective actions.
Supports design reviews, test-readiness reviews, qualification activities, production-readiness reviews, and customer acceptance events.
Manages contractual deliverables, statements of work, program changes, customer requests, and scope changes.
Supports proposals, estimates, contract negotiations, follow-on opportunities, and program-growth activities.
Required QualificationsBachelor of Science degree 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.
Preferred QualificationsMaster of Science degree or Master of Business Administration.
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 (EVM), costaccount management, or similar financialperformance methods.
Experience supporting proposals, estimates, negotiations, contract modifications, or followon program capture.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent formal programmanagement training.
Experience with program scheduling, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or productlifecycle management (PLM) systems.
Experience leading engineering teams developing mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems.
This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.
BenefitsMedical, dental, and vision insurance401(k) with company matchPaid time offHealth Savings Account (HSA) with company contributionFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA)Companypaid life and AD&D insuranceShort and longterm disability coverageTuition 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.