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Thales · 5 hours ago

Senior Program Manager

Arlington, VA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$126K/yr - $213K/yr

15+ years exp

Thales is a company that delivers operational advantage for defense and armed forces customers by providing a range of defensive systems. They are seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead high-visibility aviation programs focused on Air Traffic Control modernization and Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration, ensuring successful delivery through effective program governance and stakeholder alignment.

AerospaceCyber SecurityIndustrial ManufacturingMilitaryRemote SensingSecurityTransportation

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Hiring Manager

Angela Rodriguez

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary customer interface and trusted program representative, leading external communications, managing expectations, delivering formal reviews, and overseeing contract lifecycle activities including scope negotiation, amendments, and change management in alignment with governance and commercial policies

Own end-to-end program delivery, ensuring performance against contractual requirements, customer commitments, schedules, cost objectives, margin targets, quality standards, and customer satisfaction goals

Establish, maintain, and control the program baseline across scope, schedule, budget, staffing, risks, and opportunities, including integrated scheduling, cost forecasting, EAC updates, metrics, dashboards, and executive reporting

Drive disciplined cost, schedule, and scope management to protect profitability, identify cost-reduction and value-creation opportunities, and ensure solutions are cost-effective, operationally efficient, and value-driven

Lead comprehensive risk, opportunity, and change management through identification, quantification, mitigation, scenario planning, escalation, and governance of approved changes integrated into the program baseline

Structure and lead integrated cross-functional program teams, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, timely information flow, strong partnerships across functions, effective financial management, and support for business development and bid readiness initiatives

Qualification

Program ManagementContract ManagementRisk ManagementAviation KnowledgeFederal Acquisition RegulationsProject Management ProfessionalIntegrated SchedulingMulticultural CoordinationFrenchSpanishLeadership SkillsCommunication SkillsNegotiation SkillsMentoring Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aviation, Systems, Business, or related discipline with 15+ years of progressively responsible program management experience, or a Master's degree with 10+ years, including demonstrated knowledge of the National Airspace System (NAS) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations, integration, and regulatory considerations

8+ years of experience leading complex, technology-driven and mission-critical programs, with responsibility for scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and compliance within regulated U.S. Federal Government environments

Proven background in contract management, including scope control, change management, contractual compliance, and support of proposal and capture activities such as proposal development, cost modeling, and estimating for large-scale, multi-year programs

Demonstrated ability to operate independently with full ownership of program execution, leading cross-functional teams, managing scope and requirements autonomously, delegating effectively, and holding teams accountable for cost, schedule, and performance commitments

Strong leadership, mentoring, influencing, negotiation, and communication skills, including delivery of executive-level briefings and customer-facing communications, and the ability to operate effectively in multinational, multicultural environments across regions, functions, and time zones

Proficiency in program controls, tools, and risk management, including integrated scheduling using MS Project, Asana, or equivalent platforms; hands-on use of JIRA, Confluence, or enterprise PM systems; leadership of risk identification, mitigation, contingency, escalation; and execution through transformational and transitional change with awareness of organizational dynamics

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future

Preferred

Working knowledge of the national airspace system and/or an understanding of unmanned aircraft systems

Experience working on technology-centered programs for US Federal Gov't Agencies (with a strong preference for FAA, DoD/DoW and/or DHS)

Over 10 years of experience leading complex technical program management initiatives in highly regulated industries such as aerospace, aviation, defense, or advanced technology, with strong preference for managing programs for U.S. Federal agencies including FAA, DoD, DoT, DHS, or comparable organizations

Advanced end-to-end understanding of the full product development lifecycle, from concept and requirements definition through design, integration, deployment, sustainment, and demonstrated strategic leadership in product development planning, roadmap development, cross-functional coordination, and execution governance

Proven knowledge and experience applying Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS) in program execution and contract governance; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent industry credential; MBA or equivalent advanced degree supporting strong business, financial, and strategic decision-making capabilities

Experience leading programs in international, multicultural, matrixed environments with coordination across global teams and stakeholders, and working proficiency in French and/or Spanish enabling effective collaboration with international partners and customers

Benefits

Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period

Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program