Senior Program Manager

Miltope•Huntsville, AL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is an Exempt salary role which normally works a 9/80 work schedule. Non-duty hours work may be required based on business need. The Senior Program Manager (SPM) is a mission-critical leader who owns delivery outcomes for complex, multi-disciplinary programs driving cost/schedule/technical performance, strengthening customer relationships, and partnering with Business Development to grow the portfolio. This role requires strong leadership, exceptional negotiation ability, and hands-on business development experience in a hardware-centric manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
Minimum 10 years of program management in the defense and/or aerospace industry.
Proven track record managing complex government contracts and understanding public procurement frameworks.
Strong background in program management and the technical design-to-production lifecycle.
Ability to obtain/maintain a US security clearance
Extensive experience working within the Department of War (DoW) environment, including a strong understanding of FAR, DFARS, and other government contracting regulations
Ability to organize and prioritize tasks; excellent time management skills
Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to interface with project team and external vendors and be able to accurately document, report and present
A drive for results in a teambuilding environment
Ability to research solutions and apply advanced planning tools and techniques to resolve business challenges
Strong problem solving and negotiation skills to ensure accountability of supply base is maintained
Ability to organize, schedule, budget and coordinate work phases
A clear understanding of relevant quality standards including AS9100 Rev D
Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint); proficient experience using internal ERP systems, use of all engineering software and related applications

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
PMP certification
Experience in Lean, Six Sigma or other formal continuous improvement programs
Electronics industry experience
Experience negotiating national and foreign LTA agreements with both large and small program offices, letters of intent, POs and other contractual arrangements
Working knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP system
Thorough knowledge of manufacturing processes

Responsibilities

Deliver programs to contractual commitments with ≥95% on-time performance for DPAS and other priority orders.
Achieve cost variance within ±3% of baseline EAC and maintain accurate monthly forecasts.
Stand up disciplined risk/opportunity management with quantified mitigation plans; maintain risk burn-down trajectory.
Establish and lead integrated master schedule (IMS) governance and phase-gate reviews (PDR/CDR/PRR/FCA/DCA as applicable).
Reduce change-cycle time by improving configuration control and supplier responsiveness.
Strengthen customer satisfaction (measured via formal reviews/action-item closure rate and survey feedback).
Support capture with at least two material wins (proposal leadership, pricing strategy, and negotiations).
Lead multi-functional teams from proposal through contract award, development, production, and sustainment.
Own cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk; maintain EVMS artifacts and report earned value.
Run regular IPTs, management reviews, and customer status meetings; drive decision-making and accountability.
Build and manage baselines, EACs, and monthly forecasts; partner with Finance on margin protection.
Coordinate proposals, RFQ responses, pricing strategies, and TINA-compliant submissions; support DCMA/DCAA.
Navigate contract types (FFP/CPFF/T&M), modifications (ECP/CCP), and compliance with FAR/DFARS.
Serve as primary customer interface; shape requirements and negotiate scope, price, and delivery terms.
Collaborate with BD to develop capture plans, value propositions, and competitive proposals.
Represent Miltope at reviews and industry engagements; open doors and deepen relationships with primes and key suppliers.
Partner with Engineering on development plans, qualification/verification, and production readiness.
Coordinate with Supply Chain on make/buy, obsolescence mitigation, and long-lead procurement.
Ensure robust configuration management, change control, and quality (AS9100/ISO 9001 environment).
Maintain IMS/IMP governance, risk registers, and action trackers; publish clear, concise status reports.
Drive continuous improvement across schedule fidelity, lead times, and cost control.