Senior Program Manager

About the role

We are hiring a Senior Program Manager to lead our commercial & defense actuation programs. This is a role for someone who makes things happen: turning customer requirements and engineering innovation into qualified, delivered hardware for demanding actuation applications.

Responsibilities

• Own the program. Drive actuation programs from requirements and early design through qualification, production, and sustainment, holding accountability for scope, schedule, cost, and technical performance.
• Lead hands-on. Build and maintain integrated master schedules, budgets, and risk and opportunity registers, then roll up your sleeves to resolve issues in real time.
• Be the hub. Connect engineering, supply chain, operations, and quality so the team stays aligned and moving through each phase gate.
• Interface with customers. Serve as the primary customer-facing lead for defense primes and government stakeholders, translating requirements into clear deliverables and maintaining transparency on progress, risks, and recovery plans.
• Manage controlled work. Execute programs in accordance with ITAR/EAR, and DFARS requirements, and support mitigation activities as the company scales its classified program capability.
• Drive qualification readiness. Partner with engineering and quality to navigate qualification and airworthiness requirements and deliver compliant, verifiable hardware.
• Operate with startup agility. Identify bottlenecks early and drive solutions that balance speed, cost, and quality without heavy process overhead.
• Report to leadership. Communicate program health to executives with clarity and action-oriented recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 6-8+ years of program management experience in aerospace and defense or high-tech hardware, including direct experience on defense or government programs.
• Working knowledge of defense contracting and compliance frameworks, including ITAR/EAR, DFARS, and CMMC.
• Demonstrated success managing cost, schedule, and technical performance on hardware development programs, including EVM or equivalent program controls.
• Comfort operating in a lean environment where processes are still being built.
• Strong systems thinking and the ability to connect technical detail to business and contractual objectives.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams without heavy hierarchy.
• Excellent communicator who earns trust with engineers, executives, and customers alike.
• Willingness to wear multiple hats and adjust priorities quickly.

Nice to haves

• PMP or equivalent experience.
• Experience with actuation systems or electromechanical components.

What We Have To Offer

• Competitive compensation: $175,000 to $200,000 base salary + equity.
• Exceptional healthcare benefits — Medical is 100% covered by the company.
• Life Insurance (2x Salary) 100% covered by the company.
• Flexible PTO, 401K, Financial Wellness Resources, and more.

Clearance and Eligibility

• This position requires access to information and technology controlled under U.S. export control laws.
• Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR (22 CFR 120.62) and EAR, meaning a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual.
• Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; an active clearance is preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Salient Motion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.