Job Description
SUMMARY
The Program Director provides strategic leadership for a Division composed of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), ensuring excellence in program execution across cost, schedule, and technical performance. This role is accountable for successful contract delivery, Division workforce development, and sustained business growth.
The Program Director fosters a high-performing, collaborative work environment and partners closely with Chief Engineers to achieve program objectives. Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, this role also contributes to shaping enterprise-wide structures, tools, processes, and capabilities to support execution of large-scale strategic programs across Karman Space & Defense (Karman SD).
ABOUT US
Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Tuition Reimbursement*
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Program & Operational Leadership
- Direct and oversee all aspects of Division program execution, ensuring performance objectives for cost, schedule, and technical outcomes are consistently met.
- Provide strategic, technical, and business leadership across Division projects.
- Monitor and evaluate program performance, implementing corrective actions as needed.
- Maintain full accountability for financial, schedule, and technical performance across the Division and its IPTs.
- Plan, justify, and manage the procurement and allocation of resources required to support the Division’s contract portfolio.
People Leadership & Development
- Cultivate an inclusive, high-performance work environment that maximizes employee engagement and productivity.
- Align personnel skills and experience with program needs.
- Lead workforce planning, including hiring, performance management, and, when necessary, terminations.
- Oversee professional development through mentoring, training, and career growth opportunities.
- Ensure balanced workloads and effective utilization of Division staff.
- Maintain overall accountability for Division personnel.
Business Growth & Customer Engagement
- Drive Division growth through active participation in business development and strategic initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, including prime contractors and government agencies.
- Oversee development of and be the responsible signatory for high-quality, compliant, and financially sound proposals.
- Ensure accountability for the content, accuracy, and competitiveness of all Division proposals.
- Collaborate with market directors and enterprise leadership to identify and pursue growth opportunities.
Collaboration & Enterprise Leadership
- Partner effectively with other Divisions and Departments to deliver integrated solutions for customers and the enterprise.
- Support enterprise-wide initiatives, proposals, and operational improvements.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of organizational processes, tools, and infrastructure to enhance program execution.
- Manage and maintain Division budgets in alignment with company objectives.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Required: Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related technical field
- Preferred: Master of Science in Engineering or a related technical field
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in the space and defense industry
- Proven ability to lead, plan, and execute programs valued at $100M or greate
- Demonstrated success in Division or large-team leadership roles
- Experience managing customer relationships with prime contractors and U.S. government agencies
- Familiarity with global supply chain operations
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must possess and maintain an active DoD SECRET clearance
- Willingness and ability to obtain higher-level clearances up to TOP SECRET/SCI/SAP
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.