Program Manager Defense Jobs in Commerce, TX (NOW HIRING)

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems. All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Oversees the people who lead external technical projects from initiation to delivery. Manages and prioritizes the project stream, working with internal customers to determine project definition and business requirements. Provides budget analysis, resource allocation and coordination of project activities that may be across functional areas within the organization. Assigns and monitors work of technical personnel, ensuring that project steps are in alignment with business objectives, on-time and within budget. Monitors reliability and any internal issues that appear as a result of the project. Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function. Direct people‑management responsibility is typically required.

As a Program Integrator, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the nation's intelligence capabilities by integrating cutting‑edge technologies into the Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) program.

• Lead contractor and vendor efforts in the planning, development, testing, and deployment of new software and system capabilities into the NCCT network.
• Provide technical analysis and recommendations to translate requirements from the GIISR, user communities, and MAJCOMs into a cohesive capability roadmap aligned with COCOM CONOPs/requirements.
• Liaise and coordinate technical efforts with key external stakeholders (including I2SPO, NIOC, DTCWC, AOCO, and NIFE) to leverage collaborative relationships and integrate emerging technologies.
• Spearhead outreach to prospective industry partners and organize technical exchange meetings between the government program office, prime vendors, and technology providers.
• Advise the government program manager on project progress, ensuring technical goals, budgets, and schedules are met.
• Assist the government program manager in authoring contract documents (e.g., PWS, SOW, Bills of Material) and perform detailed technical evaluations of contractor proposals.
• Apply data engineering and modern software architecture expertise (including containerization, orchestration, and messaging frameworks) to advise on system integration and ensure alignment with emerging standards.
• Solve complex integration challenges independently, taking initiative to drive projects forward without constant oversight.
• Travel as required to attend technical planning meetings and support program activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance (or the ability to immediately obtain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility).
• Bachelor’s degree or professional certification in Data Science, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• A minimum of 8 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 6 years with a master’s degree, a PhD with 3 years’ experience, or equivalent experience.
• Experience leading small technical, project‑focused, or integrated product teams (IPTs).
• Recent (within the last 5 years) experience working with operational intelligence systems.
• Proven experience applying data engineering concepts, specifically utilizing messaging/event‑streaming frameworks (e.g., Kafka, NATS) and API integration.
• Familiarity with modern software/network architectures, including containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift).
• Understanding of DoD interoperability and data standards (e.g., UCI, JICD standards).
• Experience with requirements development and program management support activities in a DoD environment.
• Familiarity with the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to solve intelligence and targeting problems.

$140,000 - $150,000. This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action‑equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees. Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job‑related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not‑for‑profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.