Program Manager Contract Jobs in Plano, TX (NOW HIRING)

The Program Manager Military / Defense Avionics Programs is responsible for managing the daily operations and full lifecycle execution of military and defense-focused product development programs across FreeFlight Systems and Flight Data Systems. Working with engineering, supply chain, quality, operations, and contracts teams in Irving, TX USA, Robinson, TX USA, and the United Kingdom from the Irving, TX location, the Program Manager leads cross-functional integrated product teams (IPTs) developing avionics hardware and software for military rotorcraft, fixed-wing, and unmanned platforms. Programs in this role are subject to airborne software and hardware certification standards (RTCA DO-178C and DO-254), environmental qualification (DO-160 and MIL-STD-810), electromagnetic environmental effects (MIL-STD-461 / MIL-STD-464), aircraft electrical power compatibility (MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-1275), system safety (MIL-STD-882), and the program management, documentation, and data-rights requirements typical of DoD and prime-contractor customers. The role does not require access to classified information; however, the Program Manager will routinely handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and technical data subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and is responsible for safeguarding that information in accordance with company policy and applicable law.

• Manages assigned military and defense product development program(s) and contract(s) independently and with minimal oversight, owning scope, schedule, cost, technical performance, quality, and customer satisfaction
• Leads cross-functional integrated product teams (IPTs) comprised of systems, hardware, software, mechanical, firmware, quality, supply chain, manufacturing, and contracts personnel
• Develops, baselines, and maintains program lifecycle artifacts including Project Charter, Program Management Plan (PMP), Integrated Master Plan (IMP) / Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Risk and Opportunity Register, Statement of Work (SOW), Subcontract Data Requirements List (SDRL/CDRL) deliverables, and Statement of Compliance
• Plans and tracks programs to applicable airborne certification frameworks, including RTCA DO-178C (software) and DO-254 (complex electronic hardware), and ensures Plan for Software Aspects of Certification (PSAC), Plan for Hardware Aspects of Certification (PHAC), and supporting plans (SDP, SVP, SCMP, SQAP, HDP, HVP, HCMP, HQAP) are produced, reviewed, and executed on schedule
• Coordinates environmental qualification and verification activities to RTCA DO-160 and MIL-STD-810, electromagnetic environmental effects testing to MIL-STD-461 / MIL-STD-464, aircraft electrical power compatibility to MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-1275 (and where applicable MIL-HDBK-704), and system safety analyses per MIL-STD-882 and ARP4754A / ARP4761
• Coordinates qualification, first-article inspection (FAI per AS9102), and acceptance testing in accordance with applicable AS9100 quality system requirements, customer-specific quality clauses, and DD-250 / WAWF acceptance procedures
• Estimates and plans programs based on historical trends, basis-of-estimate (BOE) data, and inputs from other business units, applying Earned Value Management (EVM) principles consistent with EIA-748 where contractually required, and reports cost and schedule performance (CPI/SPI, EAC, ETC) to internal and external stakeholders
• Enforces a consistent change management and configuration management process throughout the program lifecycle, including Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), Class I/II changes, deviation/waiver requests, and customer-approved baseline changes
• Leads program risk and opportunity management, conducting regular risk reviews, maintaining mitigation/contingency plans, and escalating program-level risks to the Senior Engineering Program Manager and executive leadership as appropriate
• Acts as primary point of contact for assigned military and defense customers (DoD program offices, prime contractors, and FMS customers as applicable), and supports proposal development including responses to RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, and Sources Sought notices
• Reviews and negotiates technical scope, schedule, and price for contract modifications, change orders, and follow-on awards in coordination with Contracts Management
• Ensures contractual compliance of assigned program(s), including Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) / Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) flow-down clauses, Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA) considerations, Buy American / Trade Agreements Act (TAA) requirements, anti-counterfeit parts requirements (DFARS 252.246-7007/7008), Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance Systems, and applicable specialty provisions (REACH, RoHS, conflict minerals)
• Ensures compliance with cybersecurity and information-protection requirements applicable to defense contractors, including DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting), NIST SP 800-171 controls for CUI, and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements as they apply to assigned programs
• Handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and ITAR/EAR-controlled technical data in accordance with company policy, customer DD Form 254 guidance (where applicable), and applicable U.S. export control law; ensures program team members are properly authorized before access is granted and that data is marked, stored, transmitted, and destroyed appropriately
• Tracks and manages resource loading, manpower estimates, and subcontractor performance for assigned programs
• Tracks budget, schedule, and scope for assigned program(s); provides forecast information and periodic program performance reports to upper management and customer program offices
• Maintains healthy customer, prime-contractor, and supplier relationships as primary point of contact for FreeFlight Systems and Flight Data Systems on assigned program(s) and contract(s)
• Comply with all safety and environmental regulations and works to create and promote a safe working environment
• Adheres to all FreeFlight Systems and Flight Data Systems rules and codes of conduct and quality procedures
• Performs other duties as requested by the Senior Engineering Program Manager to support the Program and Contracts Management team

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, Mechanical, or Computer), Business, or a related discipline; Master's degree (MBA, M.S. Systems Engineering, or Engineering Management) preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of direct program or project management experience in avionics, aerospace, or defense electronics product development, with at least 3 years on military or defense programs
• Demonstrated experience managing programs subject to RTCA DO-178 (B or C) and DO-254 certification efforts, including ownership or oversight of certification plans (PSAC/PHAC) and DER/AR coordination
• Demonstrated experience planning and managing environmental and EMI/EMC qualification campaigns to DO-160, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461 / MIL-STD-464
• Working knowledge of MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-1275 aircraft electrical power requirements and their test implications
• Working knowledge of system safety processes per MIL-STD-882, ARP4754A, and ARP4761 (FHA, PSSA, SSA, FMEA/FMECA)
• Working knowledge of FAR / DFARS contract structures, CDRL/SDRL management, DD-250 / WAWF acceptance, and DoD program management practices (familiarity with the DoD 5000 series acquisition framework preferred)
• Working knowledge of DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC and how they apply to defense contractor program execution
• Earned Value Management (EVM) experience consistent with EIA-748 preferred; formal EVM training or certification a plus
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent (PgMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner) strongly preferred
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management system requirements and AS9102 first-article inspection processes
• Familiarity with anti-counterfeit parts