Program Manager

Job Summary

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services (KDRSS), a leader in providing advanced technology and solutions for national security, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Program Manager to lead a crucial program focused on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) efforts in TeUAS, Unmanned, Robotic, and/or Autonomous Systems, Sensor/Payload Integration, Artificial Intelligence Technologies.

The successful candidate will embody Kratos' commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence, driving the successful leadership and management of a complex program. This role requires adept coordination of of dispersed project teams, multiple internal divisions, and supporting teammates to achieve high client and Kratos impact. The Program Manager will be instrumental in strategic program planning, development, and implementation, ensuring rigorous management of program cost, schedule, and performance, while actively developing new business opportunities for KDRSS within the client domain.

Active areas of RDT&E for this position include, but are not limited to, TeUAS, Unmanned, Robotic, and/or Autonomous Systems, Sensor/Payload Integration, Artificial Intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Lead program teams with ultimate responsibility for meeting cost, schedule, quality, and technical/contractual performance program.
• Manage customer expectations and leverage client relationships to develop additional business opportunities for Kratos.
• Lead comprehensive project risk planning, applying robust processes and procedures to identify, analyze, classify, prioritize, and manage program risks, including formulation of a detailed risk management plan with assigned responsibilities, determined approaches, and specified mitigation strategies.
• Integrate safety policies and regulations into the project plan, assisting in the early identification, analysis, reduction, or elimination of hazards.
• Ensure the project remains within the scope, budget, and schedule of the baseline agreement, and facilitate changes to the baseline upon approved client-directed modifications.

Key Qualifications

• Bacheloris degree and a minimum of 7 years of relevant program management experience (or an equivalent combination of education/experience in a relevant engineering or scientific field).
• Specific and demonstrable experience related to unmanned systems, autonomous systems, sensor/payload integration, and direct support to or experience with sUAS and TeUAS is required.
• Proven experience in preparing research proposals, developing research and test plans, writing impactful technical papers, executing RDT&E activities, and leading professional teams responsible for multiple RDT&E efforts.
• Demonstrated experience in mitigating risks through proactive management and remediation of personnel, program, client, and security issues, including tracking trends and communicating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification desired.
• An accredited university degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in aerospace, aeronautical, or relevant engineering/science discipline focused on aerodynamics technologies, complemented by a minimum of 10 years of RDT&E experience.
• Extensive and direct experience related to TeUAS, sUAS, unmanned systems, autonomous systems, sensor/payload integration.