Deputy Program Manager, Engineering Services

Saronic Technologies • Virginia Beach, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Saronic Technologies is seeking a Deputy Program Manager to lead execution of small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV) mission package integration activities. This in-person role supports customer-site activities and Saronic facilities in the Virginia Beach area, working across engineering, vessel operations, and customer teams to integrate, test, and field payload systems that expand sUSV capabilities.

The role owns sUSV integration execution end to end, including budgets, schedules, and statements of work, and acts as the key communications link between Saronic’s cross-functional teams, end-users, and government and commercial customers. It also provides technical ownership and oversight of mission package configuration and readiness, including platform software and capability development, from design reviews and field demonstrations through validated, deployment-ready systems. The position involves coordinating on-water testing and demonstrations, managing risks and issues, and keeping programs on track from concept through fielded capability.

Travel domestically and internationally may be required up to 50% to support field operations, exercises, and customer engagements. Travel is primarily to Saronic facilities and government facilities in the DC area, with additional travel to Austin, Texas; San Diego, California; and other CONUS locations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Systems, Business, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in program management, systems integration, or technical product delivery, ideally within maritime, defense, or unmanned systems programs.
• Demonstrated ownership of program budget, schedule, scope, statements of work, and customer relationships.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, and customer-facing functions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with technical teams, end-users, and government customers.
• Working knowledge of small-vessel Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (H&ME) structures and systems.
• Working knowledge of networking, cybersecurity, and software architecture sufficient to explain how remotely operated systems work to internal and customer teams.
• Willingness and ability to participate in on-water testing and field exercise events.
• Experience managing risk, configuration, and readiness for complex technical maritime systems.
• Ability to translate technical engineering work into clear program schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and driving issues to resolution.
• Ability to connect component-level design decisions to overall system and mission performance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with unmanned surface vessels (USV/sUSV), unmanned maritime systems, or payload/mission package integration.
• Familiarity with DoD or other government acquisition processes, program execution, and contract deliverables.
• PMP certification or equivalent program/project management training.

Responsibilities

• Own program budgets, schedules, and statements of work, and control performance against customer and internal objectives.
• Report program health across scope, budget, schedule, technical objectives, and customer satisfaction to leadership and customers.
• Manage customer purchase requests from quote through delivery, acceptance, and invoicing, including supplier coordination, logistics, and associated contract actions.
• Manage and track logistics supporting customer events and integration activities, including customer acceptance.
• Lead payload and mission package integration with engineering and vessel operations teams from design through on-water testing and fielding.
• Plan and run on-water tests, exercises, and demonstration events.
• Own mission package configuration across builds and variants, ensuring configurations are validated and approved before deployment.
• Support configuration management for payloads and mission packages across builds and variants, ensuring traceability from design to delivery.
• Provide technical support for fielded systems and manage service campaigns, including maintenance, retrofits, and sustainment.
• Manage execution of product service campaigns, including maintenance, retrofits, and other sustainment activities.
• Travel domestically and internationally, up to 50%, to support field operations, exercises, and customer engagements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and end-users, coordinating across Saronic’s cross-functional teams.
• Identify, mitigate, and remove risks and blockers to program execution.
• Deliver kickoff briefs, status reports, and after-action reports.
• Support new business with win themes and technical approaches, working with Product Engineering and Growth.
• Turn customer feedback and field lessons learned into actionable improvements for Product Development and Engineering teams.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical insurance; Saronic pays 100% of employee premiums and 80% of dependent premiums.
• Dental and vision insurance; Saronic pays 100% of the basic-plan premium for employees and 80% for dependents.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Competitive salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Stock options.
• Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Discounted pet insurance options, including a 24/7 telehealth helpline.
• Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level