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Salary: USD 140,000 - 195,000 / annual
Voyager Technologies is seeking a Program Manager with a strong engineering background to lead complex embedded systems programs supporting defense and space applications. This is a hands-on technical program leadership role requiring close collaboration with engineering teams to understand technical tradeoffs and drive disciplined execution across cost, schedule, scope, risk, compliance, and customer commitments.
The role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments and is comfortable operating with limited information while bringing structure, urgency, and accountability to complex programs. You will work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, contracts, finance, business development, customers, and executive leadership to ensure successful program delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead planning, execution, and delivery of defense and space customer programs
- Own program performance across cost, schedule, technical scope, risk, quality, contractual deliverables, and customer satisfaction
- Partner closely with engineering teams to assess technical requirements, tradeoffs, risks, and ensure execution aligns with customer and contract requirements
- Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, risk registers, action trackers, customer deliverable trackers, and executive-level status reporting
- Drive cross-functional execution across all relevant departments
- Identify program risks, dependencies, and blockers early; develop mitigation plans and drive issues to closure
- Operate effectively in ambiguous environments, making informed decisions with incomplete data
- Lead recovery efforts for challenged programs by establishing clear priorities and improving execution discipline
- Support contract review, proposals, statements of work, deliverables, milestones, and customer communications
- Ensure program execution aligns with prime contract requirements, subcontractor flow-downs, customer expectations, and compliance obligations including DFARS and ITAR
- Communicate program status, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to internal leadership, external customers, and stakeholders
- Build strong customer relationships through disciplined execution, proactive communication, and transparency
- Drive a culture of accountability, urgency, attention to detail, and continuous improvement
This role is well-suited for someone with startup or growth-stage company experience where program managers wear multiple hats, solve problems proactively, and drive outcomes without waiting for perfect information.
Requirements:
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance at the appropriate level (requires U.S. Citizenship)
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in program management, technical program management, engineering program leadership, or related roles supporting complex technical programs
- Experience supporting defense, space, or other highly regulated technical environments
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced, resource-constrained, or startup-like environments
- Strong understanding of technical scope, program cost, schedule, risk, customer deliverables, and execution tradeoffs
- Experience reviewing or supporting contracts, statements of work, deliverable requirements, milestones, and customer obligations
- Working knowledge of DFARS, prime contracts, subcontractor flow-downs, and government contracting environments
- Familiarity with ITAR and export-controlled program environments
- Proven ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations and drive execution with limited data or direction
- Strong attention to detail, organizational discipline, and follow-through
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate technical program status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and customers
- Experience managing defense and/or space programs under different contract types (firm-fixed-price, cost-plus, etc.); working knowledge of Earned Value Management principles and cost/schedule performance tracking
- Willingness and ability to support program needs outside normal business hours when required
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in startup, growth-stage, or small-company environments where leaders are highly hands-on and operate across multiple functions
- Experience supporting programs for prime contractors, government customers, or major defense and space customers
- Experience with embedded software, electronics, avionics, spacecraft systems, defense electronics, communications systems, mission systems, or mission-critical hardware/software products
- Experience supporting proposals, customer negotiations, change orders, contract modifications, and program financial reviews
- Advanced degree in engineering, business, or related technical field
