Senior Program Manager, Deployment Systems & Operations

Systems Architecture & Infrastructure

• Define and implement next-generation deployment management systems
• Audit current systems, decide what to replace, enhance, or build new, then lead engineering teams to execute your vision
• Own the roadmap for deployment systems: translate operational requirements into clear technical specifications, partner with engineering to implement, and hold teams accountable to delivery timelines
• Drive enterprise-wide adoption of deployment software solutions; own the complete feedback loop between field users and engineering teams
• Lead cross-functional implementation of complex operational programs that require orchestrating the right people, processes, and technology simultaneously (e.g., global inventory management, asset tracking, predictive maintenance systems)
• Inject Deployment Operations requirements into company-wide system integrations, ensuring critical operational needs aren't overlooked by product and engineering teams
• Design and implement a centralized knowledge management system for deployment operations, establishing the single source of truth for a distributed global team

Process Design & Operational Excellence

• Create the playbook for standardized deployment methodologies that work across diverse environments (domestic, international, austere, permissive)
• Design data-driven feedback loops using predictive analytics and real-time operational data to continuously optimize performance
• Architect end-to-end solutions that span people, process, and technology—identifying when the constraint is tooling vs. training vs. organizational structure, and implementing holistic fixes
• Build measurement frameworks that surface leading indicators of deployment success/failure before they become critical issues
• Establish quality and compliance standards that scale across geographies without creating bureaucratic drag
• Reduce asset downtime through predictive maintenance models and intelligent inventory positioning

Strategic Leadership & Influence

• Present to and influence senior leadership on strategic decisions regarding deployment infrastructure, resourcing, and capability development
• Navigate complex stakeholder dynamics across Engineering, Product, Growth, Business Development, and Operations—building consensus while maintaining velocity
• Lead post-mission retrospectives and translate lessons learned into systemic improvements (not just documentation)
• Build business cases for investment in tools, processes, and capabilities—you'll need to justify ROI in ambiguous environments

Required Qualifications

• Experience
• 8+ years in operations, program management, or systems implementation roles with increasing scope and autonomy
• Proven track record of building operational systems from scratch in high-growth or rapidly-changing environments (preferably 0→1 experience)
• Demonstrated ability to drive adoption of new processes/tools across resistant or skeptical organizations
• Experience operating in regulated, high-compliance environments (defense, aerospace, healthcare, finance, etc.)
• History of working effectively with engineering teams—translating operational needs into technical requirements
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.

Core Competencies

• Exceptional problem-solving under ambiguity: You've solved problems no one has solved before, without a roadmap
• Systems thinking: You see second and third-order effects and design for them proactively
• Bias for action: You ship imperfect solutions quickly, then iterate—you don't wait for perfect information
• Executive presence: You can hold your own in rooms with senior leadership and make persuasive cases for your proposals
• Technical fluency: You're comfortable with APIs, data models, system integrations, and can have technical discussions with engineers (you don't need to code, but you need to understand how systems work)
• Cross-domain fluency: You understand the interplay between people, process, and technology—you know when a problem requires a new tool vs. a training program vs. an organizational change
• Technical leadership without coding: You can define the "what" and "why" for engineering teams, provide architectural guidance, and evaluate technical tradeoffs without needing to write the code yourself
• Implementation expertise: You have a track record of taking complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from concept to full operational deployment across distributed teams
• Data-driven decision making: You default to metrics, build dashboards, and use data to drive continuous improvement
• Process design expertise: You've designed and implemented multi-stage workflows that balanced efficiency with quality
• Change management: You've successfully led organizational change initiatives that required shifting behavior and culture

US Salary Range

$146,000 - $194,000 USD