Program Manager

** Due to the classified nature of our work, U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates must be willing to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance*

Location: Sunnyvale CA, El Segundo CA

About Us

Pacific Defense is an industry in charge of developer of advanced RF and electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. We specialize in Open Systems Architecture solutions for the non-kinetic fight. Our vision provides cost effective, highly capable, modular, and rapidly reconfigurable systems to our customers in less than half the time of traditional defense contractors. Our team delivers sensing and effects solutions for the Land, Air, Sea and Space domains at an unprecedented pace. We accomplish this strategy by combining broad domain experience in Radar, EW, SIGINT, and Communications with a go-fast execution model leveraging Open Standards, like SOSA, CMOSS, and MORA, as well as rapid prototyping methodologies to bring our advanced capabilities to customers. The Pacific Defense family includes Perceptronics Solutions with expertise spanning signal processing, novel algorithm development, cognitive systems, high performance computing, hardware design and development, and systems integration and test. We embrace the diversity of people, ideas, and a great employee experience to drive the innovation that runs through everything we do. Pacific Defense has established an excellent reputation in our professional community and is growing our team to seize new opportunities to solve tough challenges for national defense. Come join our team and accelerate your career!

Who are we looking for?

Pacific Defense is seeking a Program Manager with experience managing advanced R&D, prototyping, and low rate production projects for Military and Government customers particularly in the area of military comms and battle management. This requires someone comfortable working with minimal oversight in a cutting edge, fast paced, multi-discipline R&D engineering/prototyping/production environment. The position manages programs and their underlying projects involving RF/DSP/Digital/Embedded SW design, PCB manufacturing, board assembly and test, mechanics, software, FPGA, DSP, and systems engineering and test. This manager leads aggressive schedules, assessing schedule & technical risks, delivering programs on time, guiding engineering teams’ priorities, managing cost, and interfacing with program Military and Government customers. This is a unique position in which the selected candidate will be given the opportunity to be hands-on with day-to-day activities, while playing a key strategic role in business execution as well as directly shaping strategy!

• Experience with multiple contracting vehicles – CP, FFP, FPI, T&M
• Ability to develop detailed project management plans – Schedule, Cost, Staffing, Development, I&T and Production
• Experience taking a program thru the Requirements, Development, I&T, Verification and transition to Production
• Ability to work with both internal and external customers. Develop relationships and use to support execution and growth.
• Ability to develop details plans and establish metrics for Development, Integration, Test and Production execution.
• Demonstrated success in working well in a team and collaborative and distributed environment
• Ability to collaborate with ability to work in a fast pace dynamic environment
• Knowledge of Defense relevant RF and wireless systems
• Knowledge of Defense relevant communications systems
• Significant experience throughout the program lifecycle from development through sustainment to include: proposal development, requirements decomposition, generation of system and subsystem statements of work and subcontracts, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts including implementation for cost reduction and performance improvement efforts
• Demonstrated success in managing manpower planning, project reviews, scheduling and budget control

• Prior program experience managing complex systems (Electronics Warfare/Communications/Signals Intelligence/RF/C5ISR or similar programs with both software and hardware content) OR experience working as an IPTL (integrated product team lead) in those fields

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a program manager with a successful track record of managing cost, schedule, technical execution

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the program team engineers. Assure communication and cooperation among team members and resolves areas of conflict.
• Serve as the primary interface with the customer on all matters involving contract execution
• Coordinate with Management on issues pertaining to contract requirements, changes, and interpretations
• Develop and implement plans and schedules to execute contracts/subcontracts. Allocate and control contract budgets for labor, material, travel, and purchased services. Report program status and forecasts to senior management and customer as applicable.
• Formally identifies, assess, monitor, and mitigate engineering risk throughout the program life cycle
• Develop and implement corrective action plans when deviations from budgets and/or schedules are evident
• In conjunction with Contracts department:
• Assure that conduct of contract requirements is executed in accordance with appropriate regulations and Company policies and procedures (i.e.: federal acquisition regulations)
• Assure a timely closeout of completed programs to ensure that all obligations are satisfied and program documentation is properly recorded
• Responsible for meeting the following program objectives: technical performance, cost and schedule, risk management, and Profit and Loss (P&L)

• Coordinate efforts to support mission and cross business strategy and objectives
• Lead proposals and development of RFPs and RFIs
• Work closely with Engineering teams to work solutions and drive issues to closure
• Project related travel, primarily within the United States, will be required on occasion to support project activities

Education

• Engineering degree required, BSEE or BSCS or BSME
• Master of Engineering (preferred)
• Project Management Certification (preferred)

Pacific Defense provides competitive salaries and immediately vested 401K match. We provide 100% coverage for the employee, and 75% coverage for dependents’ medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums, as well as a flexible spending account for incidental health care expenses. We offer paid time off and federal holidays to spend time with family, pursue outside interests, or just get some extra rest.

Pacific Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.