Program Manager V

Attalon delivers engineered optical, opto-mechanical, and precision subsystem solutions for aerospace, defense, and commercial customers.

About the role

This master-level, customer-facing role leads strategically significant, highly complex programs and drives organizational success. As a Program Manager V, you will fully own the lifecycle of multiple large programs, overseeing execution from contract award through delivery. You are accountable for achieving program objectives across scope, schedule, cost, risk, profitability, and quality, ensuring contract requirements and customer satisfaction. You will lead proposal development, cross-functional teams, and company-wide initiatives such as Internal Research & Development (IR&D) projects and CapEx implementation. This position requires extensive expertise, professional judgment, and leadership to resolve highly complex program challenges while mentoring less senior team members.

Responsibilities

• Own complete program lifecycle management of multiple large-scale or strategically significant programs, from contract award through engineering, manufacturing, qualification, and delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as the primary customer liaison for technical, schedule, and contractual matters.
• Lead advanced communications regarding program status, risks, milestones, and compliance requirements.
• Develop and implement program strategies, detailed roadmaps, and integrated schedules aligned with customer and organizational business objectives.
• Facilitate alignment across cross-functional teams including engineering, procurement, quality, operations, and business development.
• Lead development of proposals, IR&D, and CapEx initiatives, owning program scoping, resource allocation, cost planning, and execution.
• Provide strategic input to ensure objectives align with the company’s goals and value proposition.
• Develop competitive program proposals, identifying pricing strategies, technical deliverables, and schedule feasibility.
• Oversee and manage implementation of new IR&D projects or capital expenditure initiatives, ensuring performance aligns with strategic priorities and business growth.
• Drive financial results for large-scale programs by owning program forecasting, cost tracking, margin analysis, and implementing corrective actions to ensure profitability.
• Employ advanced risk management strategies, anticipate technical, schedule, and resource-related challenges, and develop innovative solutions to address critical risks.
• Lead operational and production readiness across external/internal teams, ensuring compliance with ISO, regulatory, and export-control requirements while meeting program delivery objectives.
• Manage scope changes and contract amendments, ensuring strategies align with customer business objectives and company financial goals.
• Champion efforts to continuously improve program management processes, team collaboration, and operational efficiencies.
• Mentor and guide less senior program managers and specialists, serving as a key resource and advisor to advance skill development across the program management organization.
• Represent program performance, strategic plans, and execution progress to senior leadership, participating in organizational planning and decision-making for critical business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Program Management, or related discipline preferred, OR equivalent professional experience in lieu of formal education.
• Minimum of 11–13 years of experience leading strategically significant, complex programs in aerospace, defense, or manufacturing industries, including ownership of program lifecycle and customer relationships.
• Proven ability to independently manage large-scale program execution, demonstrating advanced judgment and leadership skills in cross-functional collaboration.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic program planning, program roadmaps, and risk management.
• Demonstrated financial acumen with experience directing program forecasts, budgeting, and profitability strategies for high-value contracts.
• Advanced proficiency in program management tools and systems, including scheduling platforms such as Microsoft Project or similar systems.
• Expertise in driving resource allocation, team performance, and strategic alignment across cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills for meeting the needs of organizational leaders and demanding customers.
• U.S. Citizenship required for compliance with government contracts.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Systems Engineering, or Business Administration.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or similar program management accreditation.
• Track record of leading strategic defense or aerospace prime-level contracts and delivering high-impact programs to key customer stakeholders.
• Comprehensive knowledge of precision hardware, optical subsystems, or opto-mechanical manufacturing processes aligned with ISO 9001 or AS9100 frameworks.
• Experienced in IR&D and CapEx ownership, including project justification, resource planning, and leadership over implementation strategies.
• Expertise in negotiating complex contracts, scope changes, and follow-on proposal development for key customer accounts.
• Familiarity with tools such as Wrike, Smartsheet, or comparable platforms to manage large-scale programs.
• Proven ability to mentor and grow less experienced program managers, developing internal talent pipelines for long-term organizational needs.

Pay

For California, the salary range for this position is $162,254 – $243,381 per year. This range is provided as a general guideline. When determining an offer, Attalon takes into account multiple factors, including (but not limited to) the responsibilities of the position, your professional experience, education and training, specialized skills, and current market and business conditions.