Senior Program Manager, Shipbuilding

About the Role

Saronic Technologies, a leader in autonomous maritime solutions, is seeking a Program Manager to own the execution and delivery of major shipbuilding programs. The role oversees large‑scale production at Saronic’s shipyards in Franklin, LA and Port Alpha, TX, and is accountable for cost, schedule, scope, and customer outcomes from contract award through delivery and sustainment. The Program Manager balances production throughput with mission flexibility, serves as the primary customer‑facing relationship owner, and partners with internal growth, engineering, production, and quality teams.

Responsibilities

• Program Ownership & Delivery: Own end‑to‑end execution of commercial and/or government shipbuilding programs, accountable for cost, schedule, scope, and quality from award through delivery and sustainment; manage customer contracts, deliverables, milestones, CDRLs, and contractual obligations; build and maintain an integrated program plan aligning production schedules, engineering milestones, and integration timelines; drive risk and opportunity management; report program health, forecasts, and decisions to Saronic leadership and customer stakeholders.
• Large‑Scale Production Interface: Partner with the Franklin and/or Port Alpha production teams to plan and execute rate production of large ships (autonomous or manned) from long‑lead procurement through hull construction, outfitting, and delivery; monitor build sequencing, work breakdown, and production milestones to protect throughput while meeting quality and acceptance criteria; mitigate production risks such as supply‑chain, labor, tooling, and facility constraints; coordinate with Quality and Production to ensure configurations and acceptance events meet customer and contractual standards.
• Kit & Mission Package Integration: Own the configuration strategy for the ship class across diverse mission packages, kits, and payloads on a common hull; collaborate with Mission Package Integration Managers to plan integration of bespoke and commercial‑off‑the‑shelf kits; balance production standardization against mission‑driven variance; ensure integration timelines, dependencies, and configuration baselines are reflected in the master program plan; capture lessons learned and feed them back into production and product roadmaps.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, managing expectations, requirements, and relationships throughout the program lifecycle; elicit and clarify evolving mission needs and translate them into actionable program and technical direction; lead program reviews, delivery events, and technical exchanges with government stakeholders, operators, and evaluators; deliver clear, concise program updates and after‑action reporting to leadership and customer audiences.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Direct and synchronize a cross‑functional program team spanning Production, Engineering, Software, Mission Services, and Forward Deployed Engineering; partner with Technical Program Managers to align technical execution with programmatic commitments; make and defend trade‑off decisions across capability, schedule, cost, and risk; drive disciplined configuration management across vessels, kits, payloads, and software versions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a related technical field.
• 9+ years of experience in program management of large‑scale production, shipbuilding, or complex defense development programs.
• Program management experience with Unmanned Surface Vessels highly desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interface confidently with technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ownership of cost, schedule, and scope on programs of significant size and complexity.
• Experience managing production at rate, including supply chain, build sequencing, and delivery of large or complex hardware systems highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage government or defense customers, contracts, and deliverables.
• Willingness to travel up to 25 % of the time.
• Secret security clearance eligibility required; active clearance preferred.

Key Competencies

• Ability to own a large, complex program end‑to‑end while balancing production throughput against mission flexibility.
• Capability to connect production and configuration decisions to overall program cost, schedule, and mission outcomes.
• Skill in translating evolving customer requirements into disciplined, executable program plans.
• Leadership of high‑performing, cross‑functional, and distributed teams.
• Track record of clear, consistent, and correct communications with peers, leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Comfort guiding customers through ambiguous or evolving requirements and shaping actionable solutions.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasional standing and walking within the office.
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports.
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies.
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages).

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health plans; Saronic pays 100 % of the premium for employees and 80 % for dependents.
• Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check‑ups, orthodontics, and vision care; Saronic pays 100 % of the premium for employees and 80 % for dependents.
• Time Off: Generous PTO and holidays.
• Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Competitive Salary with performance‑based bonus opportunities.
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match.
• Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short‑ and long‑term disability coverage.
• Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options, including 24/7 telehealth helpline.
• Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office.