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Defense Industry Program Management Director Jobs

Defense Unicorns

Mission Director - Army

$290K - $370K/yr

The Mission Director is a quota-carrying, full-lifecycle business owner responsible for identifying ... program management, acquisition, contracting, business development, or defense industry program ...

Oracle

Program Mgmt Director-ProdDev

Seattle, WA · On-site

We are seeking an experienced Director, Technical Program Management - Data Hall Design to lead the ... from industry innovations to life-saving care. And with AI embedded across our products and ...

Trak Group

Defense Program Manager

Hamilton, OH

... program management within the defense industry. This individual will serve as a primary interface with defense customers, OEMs, government agencies, prime contractors, strategic suppliers, and ...

Paligen Technologies, Inc.

Sr Program Manager

Tampa, FL

$109K - $110K/yr

... management within the defense industry, with a proven track record of delivering large-scale ... Other projects assigned and directed by Leadership. Required Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in ...

ROUSH

Senior Defense Program Manager

Troy, MI · On-site

$108K - $109K/yr

Experience in program management practices and execution for government and defense industry and working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) * U.S. Citizen * Ability to obtain security ...

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Defense Industry Program Management Director information

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How much do defense industry program management director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense industry program management director in the United States is $109,055.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a defense industry program management director?

A Defense Industry Program Management Director oversees and coordinates large-scale defense projects, ensuring they meet cost, schedule, and performance goals. They lead cross-functional teams, manage budgets, and interface with government clients to align project objectives with national security needs. Their role also involves risk management, compliance with defense regulations, and ensuring deliverables are completed on time. Typically, these directors have extensive experience in both program management and the defense sector.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a defense industry program management director?

To thrive as a Defense Industry Program Management Director, you typically need extensive experience in program management, a solid understanding of defense acquisition processes, and a relevant degree such as engineering or business administration. Familiarity with government contracting regulations, Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), and certifications like PMP or DAWIA are commonly required. Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring complex defense programs are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with rigorous government standards.

What are some common challenges faced by a defense industry program management director, and how can they be effectively managed?

A Defense Industry Program Management Director often faces challenges such as coordinating complex, multi-phase projects with strict regulatory compliance and security requirements. Managing cross-functional teams, adapting to evolving client needs, and navigating government contracting processes are also frequent hurdles. Effective strategies include fostering strong communication across departments, staying up-to-date on regulatory changes, and implementing robust risk management practices to anticipate and address potential issues early. Building solid relationships with stakeholders and maintaining transparency are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring project success.

What are popular job titles related to Defense Industry Program Management Director jobs?

For Defense Industry Program Management Director jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Defense Industry Program Management Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,055 per year, or $52.4 per hour.

Mission Director - Army

Remote

Defense Unicorns
Software Development • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Defense Unicornsexternal

$290K - $370K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

This position offers a base salary of $145,000 - $185,000. (Total on-target earnings of $290,000 to $370,000)
Role Description:
The Mission Director is a quota-carrying, full-lifecycle business owner responsible for identifying, shaping, closing, and executing new business within the Army. NGC2 experience is especially preferred but not a hard requirement.
You will build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes (our customers), identify meaningful problems, shape solutions using Defense Unicorns products, and lead opportunities from initial discovery through contract award. Once awarded, you will remain accountable for the contract throughout its lifecycle, including cost, schedule, performance, staffing, margin, and customer satisfaction.
This role is designed for someone who wants broad ownership. As the portfolio grows in size and complexity, Mission Directors will increasingly lead through program managers and delivery leaders while retaining accountability for portfolio outcomes.
Responsibilities:
The listed responsibilities are not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the organization. We are seeking a dynamic individual who is able to adapt and take on new responsibilities as they arise.
1. Build the Business
  • Identify and develop net-new Army opportunities and build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes and key stakeholders.
  • Own a quota and grow a diversified portfolio of business.

2. Shape and Close Opportunities
  • Define customer problems, scope, and desired outcomes to shape solutions using Defense Unicorns products and the right acquisition approach.
  • Lead opportunities through proposal, negotiation, and contract award.

3. Own Contract Execution
  • Serve as the program leader for new contracts you close, with direct responsibility for execution until the portfolio reaches the scale where additional program management support is warranted.
  • Manage delivery risks, scope changes, and mission outcomes.

4. Build and Lead the Team
  • Define and build the team required to execute each contract. Personally lead contract execution and, as the portfolio grows, lead program managers and other delivery leaders across the portfolio.

5. Grow the Portfolio
  • Maintain an active pipeline and continue developing new opportunities while executing existing contracts by identifying follow-on work, expansions, and adjacent opportunities.
  • Own customer retention, portfolio growth, and gross margin.
  • Grow from individual contract ownership into a broader portfolio leadership role.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
  • Experience within the Army, or a closely related defense environment.
  • Strong understanding of the culture, mission, stakeholders, and terminology within the domain you support.
  • Experience in one or more of the following: military operations, government program management, acquisition, contracting, business development, or defense industry program leadership.
  • Working knowledge of federal acquisition, including contract vehicles, acquisition strategies, and contract negotiations.
  • Strong commercial judgment and comfort owning revenue-generating activities.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and hold accountability for outcomes.
  • Willingness to operate across business development, contracting, staffing, and execution, personally driving critical work while building and leading the teams required to scale.
  • Comfortable operating with ambiguity, identifying opportunities, and creating a path forward without a predefined playbook.
  • Technical fluency sufficient to understand and communicate Defense Unicorns products, cloud-native technologies, DevSecOps, Kubernetes, and modern software delivery concepts.

Candidates located near major Army hubs are preferred.
Ability to travel approximately 25-40%.
Who We Are
Defense Unicorns delivers mission value by streamlining software delivery so our customers can focus on the most important challenges. We share a vision of freedom and security for the advancement of progress and innovation. Our commitment to this vision, and to our mission-driven customers, means a commitment to speed, user experience and optionality, without compromising security. Our team is composed of innovators, software engineers, and veterans with decades of experience delivering technology programs across the federal market.
What We Do
We create and deliver secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery. Defense Unicorns consolidates the best practices for security pipelines, testing, and deployment automation in order to meet the high security requirements valued by mission owners. Our solutions are agnostic by design and we believe that growing a robust ecosystem of secure, cloud-native software solutions can help enterprise customers inside and outside the federal market buy and integrate software more easily.
Who We Serve
Defense Unicorns' customers are mission-focused leaders across public and private enterprises. We proudly support defense and civil agencies across the U.S. government and we work closely with the creators of leading-edge software solutions to deliver value to the mission-owner by improving the security and consumability of commercial software products.
What We Work On
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud Environments (AWS/GCP and Azure)
  • Infrastructure-as-code (like Terraform/Pulumi)
  • Continuous Delivery and automation tooling
  • GitOps
  • Containers
  • CNCF projects and open source products and packages
  • Helm/Kustomize-Value Stream Mapping
  • Building and improving security delivery
  • Building Kubernetes and cloud native applications
Benefits Our Unicorns Enjoy
Health:
  • Medical/Dental/Vision
  • Premiums are 100% Company Paid
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
Financial:
  • 401k Retirement Plan
  • Company Stock Options
  • Home Office Budget
Leave:
  • We offer all full-time Unicorns Flexible Time Off (FTO) plus all Federal Holidays, one week for Thanksgiving, and two weeks for Christmas and New Year's
  • Paid Parental Leave
Learning:
  • Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
  • Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)

Don't have all the preferred experience or qualifications? Studies show that underrepresented groups like women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs if they don't meet every requirement listed.
At Defense Unicorns, we're committed to diversity. If you're enthusiastic about the role but don't match every criteria, we encourage you to apply. You could be the perfect fit for this or another role! Defense Unicorns is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
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