Program Manager [Vespid]

Description

The company builds defense products on Coherent Distributed Networks, helping warfighters, commercial air operators and border protection teams act faster and adapt to new threats.

Founded in 2022, the company has raised $1 billion from investors including 8VC, Accel and Valor Equity Partners. It is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego and London, and has 500+ employees across 5 global offices.

You will lead planning, execution and delivery of an autonomous modular aircraft program contracted through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). From proposal through development, test, production and sustainment, you own the cost, schedule and technical performance baselines and act as the main link to customers, including DoW, government agencies and international customers, as well as internal engineering, operations and supply chain teams. The role combines program management with hands-on knowledge of military aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Hold the program's full P&L, covering cost performance, IMS and IMP schedule adherence, risk and opportunity, and technical baseline control under EVMS-lite across the lifecycle.
• Act as the main contact for program offices such as PEO and PM, and lead reviews including PMR, technical interchange meetings and milestone reviews.
• Run cross-functional IPTs spanning systems engineering, airframe, aerodynamics, guidance, propulsion, warhead and payload integration, avionics, software, manufacturing, quality, test and logistics.
• Build and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule, manage the critical path and resolve conflicts.
• Keep risk and opportunity registers current and drive mitigation for technical, schedule, cost and supply chain risks.
• Support proposals by contributing Basis of Estimate, technical volume input, pricing strategy and capture work for new and follow-on business.
• Oversee the lifecycle from requirements decomposition through SRR, PDR and CDR, integration, flight and static test, TRR and PRR.
• Work with the Chief Engineer and systems engineering lead to review trade studies, verify requirements traceability and confirm design maturity gates are met.
• Oversee airworthiness, flight safety and range safety, and make sure safety standards are met.
• Coordinate DT&E and OT&E test campaigns, including flight test, captive carry, HIL and SIL integration labs and environmental qualification testing.
• Keep configuration management and technical data package integrity sound across engineering releases.
• Manage contract performance against FAR/DFARS, CDRLs and CLINs, and support contract modifications and ECPs.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, NISPOM and airspace or range approvals such as FAA COA and military range safety.
• Manage supplier and subcontractor performance for long-lead and critical parts: seekers, guidance electronics, propulsion, warheads, airframes and avionics.
• Report program status, financial performance and risk posture to executive leadership and customer stakeholders.

Requirements

• At least 15 years of program or project management in defense or aerospace, including direct experience managing an aircraft program.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• Working knowledge of EVMS, IMS development and risk management processes.
• Experience managing FAR/DFARS contract types (CPFF, CPIF and FFP) and supporting government program offices.
• Strong leadership, negotiation and executive communication skills, with a record of leading cross-functional IPTs through influence.
• Willingness to travel, typically 20 to 30%, to customer sites, test ranges and manufacturing and integration facilities.
• Preferred: master's degree or MBA.
• Preferred: PMP certification.
• Preferred: experience supporting Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or international program execution.
• Preferred: experience with digital engineering environments and model-based acquisition.
• Preferred: prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Deputy Program Manager or Integration Lead before moving into program management.
• Preferred: ability to obtain and maintain a Secret, Top Secret or SCI clearance.

Conditions

The role is onsite.

The posted pay range covers base salary only and excludes bonus, equity and benefits. Candidates whose expectations fall outside the range are still welcome to apply. The range is an estimate, and the actual offer may vary based on experience, education or training, critical skills and business considerations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision benefits, with 100% of cost covered by the company.
• 401k with a 50% company match up to 6% of pay, plus FSA, HSA and life insurance, among others.
• Free daily lunch while working onsite, a fully stocked kitchen and a casual dress code.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance and annual bonuses (coming soon).