Administrative Program Manager Jobs in California

I. Role Overview
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is a Department of War organization responsible for accelerating the adoption of commercial technology across the Department. As a principal gateway between the Department and leading technology companies, DIU identifies, prototypes, fields, and scales capabilities that address urgent operational needs for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and the broader joint force.
Autonomous Warfare Program Managers are responsible for turning consequential warfighter problems into executable programs-and moving promising commercial technologies from initial discovery to operational use.
This is not a traditional administrative program management role. Program Managers operate with substantial autonomy and are expected to demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, and ownership. They define and refine problems, build partnerships, shape acquisition strategies, assess technologies, manage vendors and commercial stakeholders, and drive capabilities through prototyping, transitioning, and fielding.
There is no single profile for success. The strongest candidates bring meaningful experience across at least two of the following areas:
• Military operations
• Commercial technology
• DoD acquisition
• Technical program management
• Autonomy, robotics, artificial intelligence, or related fields
Successful Program Managers combine intellectual curiosity, humility, urgency, and a willingness to take on whatever work is required to deliver results. They are technically credible, commercially aware, operationally grounded program builders.
Although this is a generalist role, DIU is particularly interested in candidates with knowledge and experience in collaborative autonomy, unmanned systems, multi-agent systems, and
human-machine teaming.
II. Core Responsibilities
• Translate complex operational needs into clear problem statements, technical objectives, evaluation criteria, and executable acquisition strategies.
• Identify and assess commercial technologies, companies, and emerging market capabilities relevant to priority Department needs.
• Build and lead multidisciplinary programs involving military operators, engineers, acquisition professionals, contracting personnel, test organizations, commercial vendors, and senior leaders.
• Manage program outcomes, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations from initial problem definition through transition.
• Develop competitive solicitation, prototyping, experimentation, and contracting strategies using the most appropriate acquisition pathways.
• Design operational assessments that generate credible evidence, meaningful end-user feedback, and clear transition decisions.
• Work directly with vendors to resolve technical, contractual, operational, and organizational barriers.
• Develop transition strategies that move successful prototypes into production, sustained operational use, or an established program of record.
• Communicate program status, risks, decisions, and recommendations clearly to senior government, military, and industry stakeholders.
• Build enduring partnerships across the Services, combatant commands, program offices, operational units, commercial industry, and the broader defense innovation ecosystem.
Requirements
I. Required Background
Competitive candidates will demonstrate most of the following:
• Meaningful experience in at least two of these areas: military operations, commercial technology, DoD acquisition, technical program management, autonomy, robotics, or artificial intelligence.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical programs with responsibility for outcomes, schedules, budgets, risks, and senior stakeholder expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, make decisions with incomplete information, and maintain momentum without detailed direction.
• Sufficient technical fluency to decompose unfamiliar problems, evaluate solution credibility and maturity, identify integration risks, and engage effectively with engineers and operators.
• Strong end-user empathy developed through operational service, acquisition experience, product development, or firsthand experience delivering commercial technology to the Department.
• Working knowledge of DoD acquisition and contracting pathways, including FAR-based contracts, Other Transactions, prize challenges, SBIR, or comparable rapid-acquisition mechanisms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate between operational, technical, commercial, and acquisition communities.
• U.S. citizenship and possession of, or eligibility to obtain, a Top Secret security clearance.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 30 percent of the time.
II. Primary Attributes
• Entrepreneurial: Identifies unmet needs, develops opportunities, builds partnerships, and creates executable programs rather than waiting for clearly defined assignments.
• Independent: Exercises sound judgment, takes responsible action with incomplete information, and maintains momentum without continuous oversight.
• Technically curious: Learns unfamiliar technical domains quickly, asks precise questions, and distinguishes credible solutions from unsupported claims.
• Operationally focused: Begins with the warfighter problem and keeps operational utility, usability, and mission impact central throughout the program.
• Commercially aware: Understands how technology companies operate, what drives investment and product decisions, and how government actions affect commercial incentives.
• Agile and adaptable: Adjusts rapidly to changing priorities, technical discoveries, stakeholder demands, and institutional constraints.
• Organized and accountable: Synchronizes multiple programs, vendors, stakeholders, decisions, and dependencies while maintaining clear ownership and follow-through.
• Persistent problem solver: Anticipates risks, identifies root causes, develops practical courses of action, and drives difficult issues to resolution.
• Outcome oriented: Measures success by operational capability delivered-not meetings conducted, processes completed, or contracts awarded.
• Collaborative: Builds trust across organizations, communicates candidly, and aligns stakeholders who may have different incentives, authorities, and priorities.
III. Preferred Experience
The following qualifications are not required but would strengthen a candidate's fit for the role:
• Familiarity with unmanned systems, collaborative autonomy, AI, robotics, and human-machine teaming.
• Experience supporting conventional or Special Operations Forces via operations, requirements, or program management.
• Experience selling or delivering commercial technology to the Department of Defense.
• Proficiency with rapid-acquisition pathways (FAR, Other Transactions, SBIR, prize challenges).
• Experience designing operational tests and transitioning prototypes into production or programs of record.
• Capability to evaluate manufacturing readiness, supply-chain risk, scalability, and product-market fit.
• Established relationships across the Services, program offices, industry, and investment communities.
• Advanced degrees or certifications, paired with a drive to improve outcomes within traditional acquisition systems.
IV. Who Thrives in This Role
This role is well suited for individuals who are energized by difficult problems, high expectations, and meaningful responsibility. Strong candidates are comfortable moving between a military unit, an engineering discussion, a company boardroom, a test event, and a senior leader briefing.
They do not require perfect information or a predefined playbook. They know when to move quickly, when to slow down, when to challenge assumptions, and when to bring others into the decision.
Most importantly, they are motivated by service and by the opportunity to deliver capabilities that materially improve how the joint force operates and fights.
Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)

• Retirement Plan - 401k with matching contributions
• Employer Paid Life Insurance (Basic)
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Sick Leave
• AFLAC (Supplementary Insurance)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

EEO Statement
Advanced Automation Corporation is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.