Program Manager, Long-Range Missile Program

CHAOS Industries
El Segundo, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience managing complex aerospace or defense programs and working with DoD acquisition processes.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years managing complex aerospace or defense programs and a SECRET clearance
    — “Current or recent DoD SECRET clearance”
  • Individuals who have led programs through development and test phases with technical delivery teams
    — “Lead the full program lifecycle to ensure that cost, schedule, and performance goals are met”
  • Candidates with a background in government contracts and working with AFRL, ONR, or Army DEVCOM
    — “Direct experience with customer S&T and early development organizations such as AFRL, ONR, Army DEVCOM”

Things to consider

  • Travel commitment may require up to 30% of time at test or customer sites
    — “Travel up to 30% as needed to support program and customer objectives”
  • Must be prepared to manage acquisition and employment of program resources
    — “Working with technical delivery leads, manage acquisition and employment of program resources”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with flight test campaigns and range coordination in your resume
    — “Experience with flight test campaigns and range coordination”
  • Demonstrate your ability to align cross-functional teams and resolve blockers
    — “Lead and coordinate efforts to resolve program-related challenges and blockers”
  • Showcase your track record in meeting customer requirements and contractual objectives
    — “Serve as the primary POC to the customer's COTR/Tech POC for contract, cost, schedule, and performance”
  • Emphasize your experience with DoD acquisition processes and government oversight
    — “Experience with DoD acquisition processes, contract types, and government oversight”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • led the full program lifecycle
  • coordinated cross-functional efforts
  • managed program budgets and resources
Typical background
8+ years of experience in project/program management

Skills & requirements

Required

Program Lifecycle ManagementCross-functional CollaborationBudget ManagementChange ManagementCustomer Engagement

Preferred

Defense Industry Experience

Stack & domain

Program ManagementProject ManagementEngineeringManufacturingTestFlight TestProduction TransitionBudget ManagementResource AllocationScope ChangesCustomer EngagementContract ManagementCommunicationTeamworkLeadershipProblem-solvingStrategic ThinkingDiscretionAerospaceDefenseLong-range Missile

About the role

Original posting from CHAOS Industries via Greenhouse

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. 

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

CHAOS is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Program Manager to lead the successful delivery of our long range missile program. This role is critical to aligning cross-functional teams, meeting customer requirements, and ensuring on-time delivery within budget, from development through flight test and production transition. The Program Manager will collaborate closely with Business Development (BD), Growth, Engineering, Manufacturing and Mission Delivery teams to oversee program execution, manage budgets, and ensure all technical and contractual objectives are met. 

Responsibilities: 

Program Lifecycle Ownership 

Lead the full program lifecycle to ensure that cost, schedule, and performance goals are met 

Provide oversight of all technical and operational functions, planning, organization, and control of resources to complete all contract deliverables and services 

Plan and direct execution of the contractual, technical, multi-disciplinary engineering, test, and administrative support effort 

Plan and track program milestones, including design reviews, test events, and flight test campaigns, and report progress through regularly scheduled briefings to leadership 

Working with technical delivery leads, manage acquisition and employment of program resources 

Ensure sufficient qualified staffing to achieve timely and successful completion of the efforts described in the contract statement of work (SOW) 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

Coordinate efforts across engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, test, operations, and Growth for integrated execution of the program 

Lead and coordinate efforts to resolve program-related challenges and blockers 

Customer Engagement 

Serve as the primary POC to the customer's COTR/Tech POC for contract, cost, schedule, and performance 

Coordinate all program management reviews with the customer to discuss contract performance, special topics of interest, and issue resolutions 

Coordinate with the technical delivery team on drafting and finalization of status reports, final reports, and other contract deliverable documentation as required by contract 

Budget & Resource Management 

Manage program budget and resource allocation to meet program requirements efficiently 

Support financial controls and administrative aspects of the program 

Change Management 

Manage and document scope changes, ensuring alignment with program goals 

Travel up to 30% as needed to support program and customer objectives, including test and customer sites 

Minimum Requirements:

B.S. in engineering, computer science, business, or other related field, and/or equivalent Program Management experience in a fast-paced, dynamic environment 

8+ years of Project/Program Management experience managing complex aerospace or defense development programs of similar scope and complexity 

Demonstrated experience leading a program through multiple phases of the development lifecycle, including test 

Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences 

Direct experience with customer S&T and early development organizations such as AFRL, ONR, Army DEVCOM as well as program of record materiel development organizations  

Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% as needed to support program and customer objectives 

Current or recent DoD SECRET clearance 

Preferred Requirements:

Prior program management experience on a missile, munition, or other weapon system program 

Experience with DoD acquisition processes, contract types, and government oversight (e.g., DCMA, DCAA) 

Experience with flight test campaigns and range coordination 

Experience with integrated master scheduling 

Current or recent DoD TOP SECRET security clearance; eligibility for SAP and/or SCI indoc. 

Experience with Agile project management using tools like JIRA and Confluence 

Prior systems engineering or software integration experience 

Experience with a prime integrator or in a fast-moving defense startup 

Advanced degree in a technical field 

Why CHAOS?

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company

Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more

Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code

Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses

Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices

Salary Range: $220,000 - $300,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. 

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

#LI-onsite

Source: CHAOS Industries careers (Greenhouse)

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