Lead Program Manager

The Opportunity

The Lead Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the development, execution, and delivery of defense programs in an organization.

Our TechnologyWe’re the world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (R-PNT) solutions that improve the reliability, performance, and safety of critical high-risk operations, even in GPS/GNSS denied environments. We provide virtually fail-safe GNSS and PNT solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. We do remarkable things!

How I Will ContributeOversee the development and execution of defense programs, ensuring that they are delivered on-time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with defense customers and stakeholders, ensuring that their needs and expectations are met while expanding on the relationships with new products or services as appropriate.

Develops a strategic plan while leading critical programs with significant and long-term business impact. Responsible for ensuring the programs success as programs work through their defined lifecycle.

Strategically manages and forecasts financial metrics on assigned programs, planning and executing to align with future business goals.

Responsible to steer program efforts to align with strategic business goals. Develops and tracks against long term program plan to maintain and expand program business.

Leads budget planning that manages progress of projects against financial targets, while adjusting the needed execution tactics to meet the program goals.

Actively manages Risk & Opportunity tracking and mitigation plans.

Responsible for tracking program status and providing regular business updates to Senior Leadership and any relevant stakeholders.

Leads major contract negotiations.

Partners with the Sales and Business Development departments cross functionally to follow up on leads for new program opportunities.

Leads internal team efforts across functional groups to meet contractual deliverables. Proactively removes roadblocks for the team.

Provides oversight of direct PM reports with responsibilities aligned with a business area. Acts as a mentor for junior PMs.

What You Bring

• To Safran Federal Systems
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business administration, or related field is required.
• Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in defense program management, with a bachelor’s degree is required; minimum of 8 years of experience in defense program management with a master’s degree is required.
• Equivalent work or military experience in lieu of a degree will be considered to fulfill degree requirements.
• Experience with managing large and complex defense programs, including managing multiple sub-contractors and suppliers.
• Ability to travel up to 20% both domestically and internationally.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Active security clearance is strongly preferred, ability and willingness to obtain a security clearance upon hire is required.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to reason logically and make sound decisions, to consider alternative and diverse perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that engenders confidence and trust.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and make decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills with the ability to communicate across various levels within the organization.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• About Safran Federal Systems
• Safran Federal Systems has been awarded as a Winner of the USA Today and Rochester Metro Area Top Workplaces 2026 Award.
• In 2022, Safran acquired Orolia, now Safran Trusted 4D, the world leader in Resilient PNT. At the intersection of critical infrastructure and national defense, Safran Trusted 4D solutions govern and protect the integrity of systems that shape the world.
• In early 2019, Orolia Defense & Security spun off as a separate entity from its parent company Orolia, with the mission of providing resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions and custom engineering services to U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Defense organizations, and their contractors.
• In August of 2019, Safran Federal Systems acquired Talen-X, a U.S. company specializing in advanced GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Simulation solutions and Interference, Detection, and Mitigation (IDM) technologies.
• Talen-X's portfolio was an ideal fit and has helped to enhance Safran FS's overall offerings.
• The acquisition enabled Talen-X's existing resources, operations and capabilities to be scaled and accelerated to better support the warfighter.
• Read the press release here.
• Safran Federal Systems operates as a proxy-regulated company, Free of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI). As such, Safran FS Defense & Security is approved to work on the full spectrum of U.S. Government classified and unclassified projects and is positioned to support strategic partnerships in the development of key PNT technologies for the defense market.
• All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
• Please note this description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.