Program Manager

Voyager Technologies • San Diego, CA

8d

About The Position

Voyager is seeking a Program Manager with an engineering background to lead complex embedded systems programs supporting defense and space applications. This hands-on technical program leader works closely with engineering teams to understand technical tradeoffs and drive disciplined execution across cost, schedule, scope, risk, compliance, and customer commitments. The role calls for someone who can bring structure, urgency, and accountability to fast-paced, resource-constrained, and ambiguous environments, including settings where information is incomplete and program managers are expected to work across multiple functions and proactively solve problems.

The Program Manager coordinates with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, contracts, finance, business development, customers, and executive leadership to deliver programs successfully. The position also supports contract and proposal activities, customer relationships, program recovery, and compliance with applicable government contracting and export control requirements, including DFARS and ITAR-related processes. The role may require support outside normal business hours when program needs arise.

The good-faith base salary range is $140,000–$193,000, depending on experience, skills, and location. The role is eligible for an incentive plan. Voyager offers a competitive total compensation package and flexible rewards supporting employees’ professional and personal well-being.

Requirements

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance at the appropriate level; U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or another related engineering discipline.
• Engineering background and experience working on complex technical programs involving embedded systems, avionics, electronics, hardware/software integration, or similar mission-critical products.
• At least 3 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 a fast-paced, resource-constrained, or startup-like environment.
• 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.
• 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 communicating technical program status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and customers.
• Experience managing defense and/or space programs under contract types including firm-fixed-price, cost-plus, and other government contracting structures.
• Working knowledge of Earned Value Management principles and cost/schedule performance tracking.
• Must be a U.S. Person under the stated export regulations and eligible to obtain any required export authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a startup, growth-stage company, or small-company environment where leaders are highly hands-on and work across multiple functions.
• Experience leading program recovery, corrective action planning, or turnaround efforts for programs facing cost, schedule, technical, execution, or customer satisfaction challenges.
• Prior experience as an engineer, systems engineer, technical lead, engineering manager, or technical program manager.
• 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 other mission-critical hardware/software products.
• Experience supporting proposals, customer negotiations, change orders, contract modifications, and program financial reviews.
• Advanced degree in engineering, business, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, and delivery of embedded systems programs for defense and space customers.
• Own program performance across cost, schedule, technical scope, risk, quality, contractual deliverables, and customer satisfaction.
• Partner with engineering teams to understand technical requirements, assess tradeoffs, identify risks, and align execution 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 engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, contracts, finance, business development, and customer-facing teams.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and blockers early; develop mitigation plans and drive issues to closure.
• Make informed decisions in ambiguous environments with incomplete data, while refining assumptions, plans, and priorities.
• Lead recovery efforts for challenged programs by setting priorities, improving execution discipline, driving accountability, and returning programs to a stable and predictable path.
• Support contract review, proposal input, statements of work, deliverables, milestones, and customer communications.
• Partner with contracts and leadership to align program execution with prime contract requirements, subcontractor flow-downs, customer expectations, and applicable compliance obligations.
• Support compliance with government contracting, export control, and defense program requirements, including DFARS and ITAR-related processes.
• Communicate program status, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to internal leadership, external customers, and other stakeholders.
• Build customer relationships through disciplined execution, proactive communication, transparency, and ownership of outcomes.
• Promote accountability, urgency, attention to detail, and continuous improvement across assigned programs.
• Support program needs outside normal business hours when required, including time-sensitive customer, supplier, or internal execution activities.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO).
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and families, with a significant portion of premiums covered by the company and many benefits paid at 100% for employees.
• Flexible, affordable gym memberships with access to more than 12,700 nationwide options, plus free on-demand workout videos before enrollment.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 50% company match on contributions up to 8%.
• Company wellness programs supporting physical and mental well-being.
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources.
• Incentive plan eligibility.
• Competitive total compensation package.

What This Job Offers

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