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Salary: USD 230,000 - 330,000 / annual
CHAOS Industries is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of an autonomous Massed Modular Aircraft program contracted through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This is a high-visibility role requiring ownership of program cost, schedule, and technical performance (CSP) baselines from proposal through development, test, production, and sustainment. You will serve as the primary interface with customers (Department of War, government agencies, international customers), internal engineering teams, operations, and supply chain partners.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own full program P&L, including cost performance, schedule adherence (IMS/IMP), risk/opportunity management, and technical baseline control (EVMS-lite) across the program lifecycle.
- Serve as primary point of contact for customer program offices (e.g., PEO, PM offices), leading program reviews, technical interchange meetings, and milestone reviews.
- Coordinate cross-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) spanning systems engineering, airframe, aerodynamics, guidance, propulsion, warhead/payload integration, avionics, software, manufacturing, quality, test, and logistics.
- Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS); manage critical path and resolve schedule conflicts.
- Manage program risk and opportunity registers; drive mitigation plans for technical, schedule, cost, and supply chain risks.
- Support proposal development, including Basis of Estimate (BOE) generation, technical volume input, pricing strategy, and capture activities for new business and follow-on contracts.
- Provide informed oversight across the full system lifecycle: requirements decomposition, System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary/Critical Design Review (PDR/CDR), integration, flight/static test, Test Readiness Review (TRR), and Production Readiness Review (PRR).
- Partner with Chief Engineer and systems engineering lead to assess technical trade studies, verify requirements traceability, and ensure design maturity gates are met.
- Oversee airworthiness, flight safety, and range safety processes, and ensure compliance with applicable safety standards.
- Coordinate developmental and operational test campaigns (DT&E/OT&E), including flight test, captive carry, HIL/SIL integration labs, and environmental/qualification testing.
- Ensure configuration management (CM) rigor and technical data package integrity across engineering releases.
- Manage contract performance against FAR/DFARS requirements, CDRLs, and contract line items (CLINs); support contract modifications and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs).
- Ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR export control regulations, DoW security requirements (NISPOM), and applicable airspace/range approvals (e.g., FAA COA, military range safety).
- Manage supply chain and subcontractor performance for long-lead and critical components (seekers, guidance electronics, propulsion, warheads, airframes, avionics).
- Report program status, financial performance, and risk posture to executive leadership and customer stakeholders.
COMPANY CONTEXT:
CHAOS Industries, founded in 2022, has raised $1 billion in funding from leading investors including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™). Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London, the company employs 500+ people across 5 global offices.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum 15 years of program/project management experience within the defense or aerospace industry, with direct experience managing an aircraft program. Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field. Strong working knowledge of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development, and risk management processes. Experience managing programs under FAR/DFARS contract types (CPFF, CPIF, FFP) and supporting government customer program offices. Excellent leadership, negotiation, and executive-level communication skills; demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional IPTs and lead through influence. Willingness to travel 20–30% to customer sites, test ranges, and manufacturing/integration facilities.
Preferred: Master's degree or MBA. PMP certification. Experience supporting Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or international program execution. Experience with digital engineering environments and model-based acquisition approaches. Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Deputy Program Manager, or Integration Lead. Ability to obtain/maintain Secret/Top Secret/SCI clearance.
