Deputy Program Manager

Firestorm•Rome, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Firestorm Labs is seeking a Deputy Program Manager to help lead execution of a multi-year Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) STRATFI effort involving aircraft production, operator training, payload integration, and field exercise support. The Deputy Program Manager is the Program Manager’s principal execution partner and owns the day-to-day work that keeps the federal contract on cost, on schedule, and compliant. This includes the integrated master schedule, CDRL delivery calendar, subcontractor and supplier coordination, risk and action tracking, and recurring reporting to the government customer. The role acts with the Program Manager’s authority in their absence and is expected to develop toward a Program Manager position. The role is based at Firestorm’s site in Rome, New York, with domestic travel of up to 25% to customer sites, vendors, test ranges, and field exercises. The work combines office and field environments, including manufacturing and flight-line areas where appropriate personal protective equipment is required. Field exercises and flight tests may involve extended hours, outdoor conditions, and travel to remote sites. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds may be required, with assistance available. The U.S. salary range is $117,000–$140,000. Relocation assistance may be included in the offer package where appropriate. Firestorm offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
At least 2 years of program, project, or operations management experience, including at least 2 years supporting U.S. Government contracts as a prime or subcontractor.
Demonstrated ownership of schedule, deliverables, and cost tracking on a federal contract, rather than solely a support or coordinator role.
Working knowledge of the federal contracting environment, including FAR/DFARS fundamentals, CLIN and PWS structure, CDRL and DID requirements, and government reporting expectations.
Proficiency with scheduling and tracking tools such as Microsoft Project, JIRA, Smartsheet, or equivalent, and advanced Excel.
Clear, concise written communication skills, including the ability to produce customer-facing status reports or technical deliverables without heavy rework.
Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR (22 CFR 120.62) and eligible to obtain and maintain a DoD SECRET security clearance.
Willingness to travel up to 25% to test ranges, customer sites, and field exercises, including occasional austere or outdoor environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience on SBIR/STTR, STRATFI/TACFI, or other AFRL-, AFWERX-, or DIU-funded programs.
Background in unmanned aircraft systems, aerospace manufacturing, or additive manufacturing.
Familiarity with earned value management principles and integrated baseline reviews.
PMP, CAPM, or DAWIA program management certification.
Active DoD SECRET clearance at time of hire.
Prior military service, particularly in aviation, acquisition, or logistics roles.
Experience supporting airworthiness, ATO/cybersecurity accreditation, or flight test processes.

Responsibilities

Assist in maintaining the Integrated Master Schedule across the period of performance, including WBS structure, task dependencies, critical path, and baseline change control.
Translate PWS tasks and CLIN scope into executable work packages with named owners, entry and exit criteria, and measurable completion.
Assist in running weekly execution stand-ups, monthly program reviews, and milestone gate reviews, including agendas, decisions, and action-item closure.
Track earned value or equivalent progress measures, identify schedule variance, and drive recovery plans with engineering and production leads.
Own the CDRL matrix and delivery calendar, coordinate author assignments, manage internal review cycles, and submit deliverables on or ahead of contractual due dates.
Verify deliverables conform to their Data Item Descriptions, distribution statements, and marking requirements before release.
Maintain the program contract file, including modifications, correspondence, technical direction, and traceability between PWS tasks, CLINs, and delivered artifacts.
Support contract actions with Contracts and Finance, including modifications, option exercises, funding actions, and requests for equitable adjustment.
Monitor program financials against the approved baseline for labor, materials, subcontracts, and other direct costs, and support monthly accrual and estimate-at-completion updates.
Track funding status and burn rate, and flag funding exhaustion and limitation-of-funds thresholds to the Program Manager and Contracts with sufficient lead time.
Assist with basis-of-estimate and pricing inputs for follow-on scope, option years, and new proposals.
Prepare customer-ready monthly status reports, quarterly reviews, and technical interchange meeting materials.
Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to align hardware builds, kit deliveries, and ground control system deliveries with contractual dates.
Coordinate operator and maintainer training course scheduling and materials.
Support payload integration and test campaign planning and resourcing, assist with range and airspace coordination, and support post-test reporting.
Maintain the risk and opportunity register, drive mitigation plans to closure, and escalate program-threatening risks with recommended courses of action.
Manage subcontractor and vendor performance against statements of work, delivery dates, and quality requirements.
Support configuration management, quality, cybersecurity, and export-control processes as they apply to program deliverables.