Subcontract Program Management Sr Staff

Who We Are

We are a dynamic team at the cutting edge of National Security Space dedicated to developing innovative technologies that address the most unique and pressing customer challenges. Our collaborative culture fosters creativity, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence for our programs and our suppliers.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of managing critical partnerships for key discriminating deliverables that drive the success of a quickly growing business area with tremendous opportunity for advancement. The IC5 Subcontract Program Manager Sr Stf position is an exceptional opportunity for a high potential engineer to expand an already discriminating skillset to include subcontract type strategy, negotiations, and execution to deliver. This SPM role provides proven engineering professionals with a path to program manager that sets them apart from their peers in gaining negotiation expertise with suppliers that regularly provide the most critical payloads to our customers. It gives a leg up in shaping contract terms and conditions, in addition to cost and schedule.

Who You Are

You have internalized that an SPM plays a dual leadership role on a program—an initiator to compel the supplier and the program to meet commitments. You are equally comfortable balancing risk between LM and Subcontractors, during negotiations and execution, to deliver an efficient custom solution. You understand that as an SPM you will use both LM and supplier schedules, requirement needs, and giver/receiver exchanges to push each party to drive program execution.

You are a strategic, pro-active leader with deep experience in your technical field. You have a proven background creating clarity and motivating with vision that you can communicate to all levels—technician to executive. You are, or will soon be able to, operate almost entirely independently and accept accountability in turn. You have been recognized by our key customers for your impact on program performance. You are a mentor in technical topics for custom engineered deliverables and want to grow that to include programmatic and contractual expertise. You mentor with patience, professionalism, and a growth mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Subcontract Management Team (SMT) to develop and maintain a consistent business rhythm, ensuring that cost, schedule, and technical objectives are met.
• Oversee the end-to-end subcontracting process, including RFP activities, negotiations, awards, and performance management.
• Ensure subcontractor performance aligns with program specifications, including cost, schedule, quality, and earned value requirements.
• Manage and release deliverables, including Statements of Work (SOWs) and Subcontract Data Requirements Lists (SDRLs).
• Lead programmatic and technical meetings with subcontractors and internal engineering teams, fostering clear communication and accountability.
• Identify, forecast, and resolve issues impacting subcontractor performance, ensuring continuous progress and delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college, or equivalent experience/combined education.
• 5+ years experience in optical engineering.
• Experience in the development, assembly, integration, test, and delivery of optical hardware.
• Able to author a supplier statement of work with minimal guidance.
• Able to work full-time on-site at the Louisville facility.
• Must be willing and able to travel to suppliers on short notice. Travel is primarily domestic but could be international. Travel is expected to be minimal (e.g., for monthly 1-day PMRs) but could surge to 50-75% Mon-Fri if supplier performance falters.
• Must be a US Citizen and able to obtain and maintain a US DoD TOP SECRET/SCI SAP with CI Poly clearance, as well as successfully pass a drug and background check.

Desired Skills

• Proven ability to operate in various capacities and levels in a fast-paced competitive environment with high pressure while maintaining composure and focus.
• Advanced understanding in the field and knowledge of navigating processes, procedures, and execution of all phases of the program design cycle.
• Ability to work without appreciable direction, assess and interpret cost/schedule/technical data, risks/opportunities, and implement strategic execution/recovery plans.
• Experience managing complex assignments with considerable latitude to accomplish objectives.
• Experience scaling a concept (engineering) or operation (manufacturing/production) from prototype to production, as well as contributing to sustainment strategy.
• Ability to understand, inspire, and coach teams to make more effective decisions in a cross-functional, accountable environment.
• Experience as a Certified Principal Engineer or Responsible Subsystem Engineer (for engineering professionals).
• Deep understanding of requirements language, flowdowns, and mission assurance (for engineering professionals).

Pay

Full-Time Salary Range: $145,100.00 - $269,500.00

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10)
• 401(k) match
• Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Education Assistance
• Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (performance-based, not guaranteed)

For Washington state applicants only: Non-represented full-time employees accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.