Program Manager, Defense Contracts

Hyliion•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The Program Manager, Defense Contracts leads Hyliion’s government and defense programs from opportunity review and proposal development through contract execution and customer delivery. The role coordinates engineering, operations, finance, business development, supply chain, and external partners to translate customer requirements into executable plans and keep scope, schedule, cost, risks, and deliverables on track. The position serves as the primary customer interface for assigned programs, including government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact. The role leads government proposal preparation, including SBIR proposals, BAAs, white papers, and related responses. It also supports contract administration, reporting, audit activities, and government compliance. The position is salaried and exempt, typically works in an office environment, and may also work around operations, warehouses, and production environments. Travel of up to 10% is required to visit customers, engineering providers, and hardware suppliers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
At least five years of experience in government program or project management, government contract execution, proposal development, or a related role.
Strong program management skills, including planning and tracking scope, requirements, schedules, costs, risks, and deliverables.
Clear, concise writing and communication skills, including the ability to develop persuasive proposals and accurate program reports.
Technical aptitude and a record of resolving complex issues.
Familiarity with government contracting and the ability to learn and apply applicable contract, reporting, and compliance requirements.
Experience with program management tools and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to collaborate, follow through on commitments, adapt to changing priorities, and meet agreed deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to communicate effectively with customers, internal teams, suppliers, and external partners.
Experience with high-voltage systems and associated safety protocols.
Ability to travel up to 10% to visit customers, engineering providers, and hardware suppliers.

Nice To Haves

Experience with government compliance, reporting, or audit activities.
Experience in a technology environment.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional planning and execution of government and military programs, coordinating internal teams, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
Review solicitations, contracts, statements of work, specifications, and customer commitments, and translate them into requirements and deliverables matrices, work plans, schedules, owners, and acceptance criteria.
Build and maintain integrated program schedules, track milestones, dependencies, decisions, risks, issues, and corrective actions, and develop recovery plans when needed.
Coordinate technical and operational work to keep requirements and specifications aligned with system designs and customer expectations, and track hardware, software, and system deliverables through prototype and production schedules.
Serve as the primary customer interface for assigned programs and manage day-to-day communication with government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact.
Lead internal and customer program reviews and prepare status materials on technical progress, schedule, deliverables, risks, and spending, including weekly health updates and monthly reports as required.
Develop program spend forecasts and track actual costs, commitments, and variances with Finance to meet customer reporting requirements.
Work with customers, Tier 1 suppliers, and external stakeholders to resolve delivery issues, remove roadblocks, and maintain progress against commitments.
Participate in reviewing government contracting opportunities and coordinate proposal planning, schedules, and required inputs.
Lead writing, editing, coordination, and submission of government proposals and other responses, including SBIR proposals, BAAs, white papers, and related requests.
Coordinate technical, programmatic, cost, schedule, and compliance contributions from internal teams and partners, ensuring submissions address solicitation requirements and meet deadlines.
Maintain contract requirement matrices, supporting records, and audit trails, and track reporting and other contract obligations through completion.
Coordinate DCAA audit activities, prepare representatives for process reviews, document findings or deficiencies, track corrective actions, and report progress.
Manage required PIEE workflows, including WAWF and SPRS, and maintain SAM.gov account administration and annual representations and certifications.
Work with Finance on government accounting, rate proposals, contract cost tracking, and FAR/DFARS processes and training.
Coordinate with IT, security, and other support teams on cybersecurity and support-service requirements applicable to government contracts.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned, needed, or required for the business.