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Programs Director Jobs in Columbia, MD (NOW HIRING)

Auria

Program Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

Space Force, Air Force, SDA, or other DoD space programs, with direct experience in satellite ground systems strongly preferred. • Experience with satellite operations, ground systems, mission ...

Auria

Program Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

Space Force, Air Force, SDA, or other DoD space programs, with direct experience in satellite ground systems strongly preferred. • Experience with satellite operations, ground systems, mission ...

Think Tank, Inc.

Program Director

Silver Spring, MD · Remote

The Program Director will provide senior executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational ... Proven experience managing programs in civil, mechanical, marine, electrical, or related ...

Sky Solutions

Program Director (CMS)

Tysons Corner, VA · On-site

Direct experience supporting CMS programs or initiatives is required. * Proven experience managing or providing senior delivery leadership for federal technology programs/contracts valued at $100M+

New

iTech AG

Program Director

Arlington, VA · On-site +1

Provide leadership and oversight for assigned Census Bureau and Department of Commerce programs, contracts, projects, and workstreams. * Provide direct, hands-on contract support and serve as a ...

Northrop Grumman

Program Director

Linthicum, MD · On-site

The director will be tasked with ensuring successful execution of existing development programs as well as the strategic pursuit of new business opportunities to grow the business portfolio ...

New

eSimplicity

Program Director

Columbia, MD · On-site

$156K - $187K/yr

The Program Director will operate in a transparent, collaborative delivery model with customer ... related programs and platform teams. Requirements: Required qualifications * 10+ years in ...

Sparksoft Corporation

Program Director

Columbia, MD · Hybrid

As the program director, oversees coordination of personnel and resources required to successfully complete projects. Prepares budget, directs staffing, recruitments and client/stakeholder ...

eSimplicity

Program Director

Columbia, MD · On-site

$156K - $187K/yr

The Program Director will operate in a transparent, collaborative delivery model with customer ... related programs and platform teams. Requirements Required qualifications * 10+ years in ...

eSimplicity

Program Director

Columbia, MD

$156K - $187K/yr

The Program Director will operate in a transparent, collaborative delivery model with customer ... related programs and platform teams. Requirements Required qualifications * 10+ years in ...

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All JobsPrograms JobsPrograms Director JobsPrograms Director Jobs in Columbia, MD

Programs Director information

See Columbia, MD salary details

$29.3K

$77.6K

$136K

How much do programs director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for programs director in Columbia, MD is $77,601.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,600.00 and $91,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a programs director?

To thrive as a Programs Director, you need strong leadership abilities, strategic planning skills, and experience managing multiple projects or initiatives, often supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with project management software, budgeting tools, and reporting systems is typically required, along with certifications like PMP being advantageous. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and team-building skills help a Programs Director lead diverse teams and engage stakeholders effectively. These skills and qualities are essential for driving organizational goals, ensuring program success, and maintaining alignment between teams and strategic objectives.

What are some common challenges a programs director faces when overseeing multiple projects simultaneously?

Programs Directors often manage several projects at once, which can make balancing competing priorities and resources a major challenge. Coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring consistent communication, and aligning project goals with organizational strategy require strong leadership and adaptability. It’s important to implement effective project management systems, delegate tasks appropriately, and foster collaboration to keep all programs on track and within budget. Regularly reviewing progress and being proactive in addressing issues can help mitigate these challenges and ensure overall program success.

What is the difference between Programs Director vs Program Coordinator?

AspectPrograms Director
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in a related field; some roles prefer a master's degree or certifications in program management
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple programs or departments, often in nonprofit, education, or government sectors
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly found in organizations managing large-scale initiatives, overseeing program staff and budgets
Search & Comparison IntentPeople compare Programs Director with Program Coordinator to understand differences in responsibilities and seniority

The Programs Director typically holds a higher-level leadership role, overseeing multiple programs and strategic planning, while a Program Coordinator handles day-to-day program operations. The comparison helps job seekers and employers distinguish between strategic oversight and operational roles within organizations.

What does a programs director do?

A programs director oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of organizational programs to ensure they meet goals and standards. They coordinate teams, manage budgets, develop strategies, and often use project management tools to track progress. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are essential for success in this role.

What is the role of a programs director?

A programs director oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs within an organization. They coordinate teams, manage budgets, develop strategies, and ensure program goals align with organizational objectives, often requiring strong leadership and project management skills.

What are the most commonly searched types of Programs jobs in Columbia, MD?

The most popular types of Programs jobs in Columbia, MD are:

What cities near Columbia, MD are hiring for Programs Director jobs?

Cities near Columbia, MD with the most Programs Director job openings:

Programs Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Programs Director job openings in Columbia, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $78,491 per year, or $37.7 per hour.

Program Director

Auria

Washington, DC • On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Auria is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead a complex U.S. Space Force ground architecture framework amp; integration effort. This individual will be responsible for the successful execution and continued evolution of an enterprise ground integration framework that brings together Government, commercial, and satellite operations services, Ground Entry Points (GEPs), space vehicle providers, mission applications, infrastructure, and other ground capabilities into a cohesive and interoperable enterprise. The Program Director will serve as a primary interface with the Government and provide overall leadership across program execution, technical integration, cost, schedule, staffing, risk, subcontractor/partner performance, and customer engagement. The successful candidate must understand how modern cloud-based systems are designed, deployed, secured, integrated, and operated, as well as how satellite ground systems support mission planning, command and control, telemetry, tracking, communications, and space vehicle operations. The Program Director will work closely with the program's Chief Engineer or principal software architect to achieve this; however, the individual must possess sufficient technical depth and systems-level understanding to lead a highly technical integration program, challenge assumptions, understand architectural and interface dependencies, evaluate technical and programmatic tradeoffs, and translate Government mission objectives into executable plans. This is a contingent position out of Washington, DC / Northern Virginia; remote considered for highly qualified candidates.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO DO:
Essential Functions / Responsibilities
• Serve as a primary Government interface and accountable program leader, establishing trusted relationships with customer leadership, mission stakeholders, technical organizations, industry partners, and vendors.
• Lead end-to-end program execution, maintaining accountability for scope, technical performance, cost, schedule, staffing, quality, contractual commitments, and mission outcomes.
• Establish and maintain an integrated program baseline, including the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), milestones, dependencies, deliverables, staffing/resource plans, and cost forecasts, ensuring traceability from contractual requirements through technical execution and delivery.
• Integrate program management and systems engineering activities so that requirements, architecture, technical dependencies, schedule, cost, risk, and verification activities remain synchronized throughout execution.
• Lead execution of a complex system-of-systems integration environment involving Government and commercial satellite operations services, GEPs, space vehicle vendors, mission applications, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity capabilities, networks, and other third-party systems.
• Possess sufficient technical understanding of satellite ground systems and mission operations to evaluate how mission planning, scheduling, command and control, telemetry, communications, network services, ground infrastructure, and space vehicle interfaces collectively support end-to-end mission threads.
• Understand modern cloud-native architectures and deployment models, including cloud infrastructure, containerized applications and microservices, APIs, CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines, data services, identity/access management, observability, resiliency, and deployment across multiple security environments.
• Work closely with the Chief Engineer, systems engineering, software, cloud/platform, cybersecurity, integration/test, and operations leads to ensure technical decisions are translated into executable plans, schedules, resource requirements, risks, and customer decisions.
• Drive an open, modular integration strategy based on MOSA principles, open standards, reusable interfaces, and API-driven integration to reduce vendor lock-in and enable rapid onboarding, replacement, and evolution of third-party capabilities.
• Establish disciplined processes for third-party integration and onboarding, including interface definition, dependency management, integration readiness, verification, configuration management, and identification of technical or contractual blockers.
• Lead risk and opportunity management, identifying technical, programmatic, contractual, staffing, integration, cybersecurity, and schedule risks early; establish mitigation plans and elevate issues requiring Government or corporate decisions before they impact mission delivery.
• Maintain strong cost and schedule discipline, using credible program data and leading indicators to identify trends, forecast outcomes, assess impacts of proposed changes, and provide management and the Government with actionable recommendations rather than status reporting alone.
• Manage contractual scope and change, ensuring new requirements, Government direction, technical changes, and evolving mission needs are evaluated for cost, schedule, staffing, technical, and contractual impacts before incorporation into the program baseline.
• Oversee subcontractor, vendor, and partner execution, ensuring externally provided products and services meet required technical, interface, schedule, cybersecurity, and performance commitments and integrate successfully into the broader enterprise.
• Partner with the Government to develop and maintain a technical and programmatic roadmap for future ground evolution, anticipating growth in spacecraft, vendors, users, mission services, infrastructure, operational tempo, and interoperability requirements.
WHAT THE TEAM REQUIRES:
• Current U.S. Government Secret clearance and ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI eligibility; U.S. Citizenship required.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible program or technical leadership experience supporting complex software, information technology, space ground, C2, or system-of-systems integration programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex Government programs involving multiple technical organizations, vendors, subcontractors, or externally developed systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing scope, WBS, IMS, cost, schedule, staffing, risk, change, deliverables, and contractual performance.
• Working technical understanding of cloud-based software systems, including how applications are developed, integrated, deployed, secured, tested, accredited, operated, and sustained in Government environments.
• Understanding of systems integration and open architecture principles, including APIs/interfaces, data exchange, modularity, interoperability, integration testing, and management of dependencies among independently developed systems.
• Ability to understand complex technical issues and engage credibly with engineers, architects, operators, and Government technical leadership while translating those issues into programmatic implications and executive-level recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, rapidly reprioritize resources, and maintain execution discipline in a dynamic mission environment.
• Strong customer engagement, written communication, briefing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, including experience presenting complex issues and recommendations to senior Government and corporate leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of ambiguous or evolving problems, establish structure and accountability, and drive issues through resolution
WHAT THE TEAM PREFERS:
• 10+ years of experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Air Force, SDA, or other DoD space programs, with direct experience in satellite ground systems strongly preferred.
• Experience with satellite operations, ground systems, mission management, command and control, ground networks, GEPs/ground stations, or spacecraft-to-ground interfaces.
• Experience supporting large-scale integration of Government and commercial systems or services within a system-of-systems architecture. • Experience with cloud-native DoD environments, DevSecOps/software factories, containerized applications, CI/CD, Zero Trust, RMF/ATO processes, and multi-level security environments.
• Experience implementing or managing architectures based on MOSA, open standards, open APIs, and vendor-agnostic integration principles.
• Experience managing programs in which significant portions of the technical solution are provided by subcontractors, commercial vendors, or other Government contractors, requiring strong interface and dependency management rather than vertically integrated development.
• Experience developing technology and capability roadmaps that balance current program execution with future architecture evolution, scalability, interoperability, and mission growth.
• Experience supporting capture, proposal development, technical solution shaping, BOE development, transition planning, and follow-on growth for major DoD pursuits.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, information systems, or another relevant technical discipline preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• PMP or equivalent program management certification highly desired.
• Demonstrated leadership maturity, sound judgment, high emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trusted relationships across Government, industry partners, technical teams, and corporate leadership.
PAY TRANSPARENCY: The salary offered will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications - skills, education amp; experience - and the position level. $180,000 - $230,000
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct 24, 2026
THE AURIA TEAM:
Auria is a provider of solutions and software in support of complex Space, National Security, and Cyber missions of federal, international, and commercial customers. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO our success is built on the excellence of diverse teams advancing innovative systems and operational software to strengthen our customers’ missions. With a distinguished track record and a spirit of relentless pursuit, and R amp;D, we set the pace for progress and execute every mission with the utmost precision.

Why You’ll Love Working at Auria

We believe our team does their best work when they are well-supported, financially secure, and have the freedom to balance life outside of the office.

Time for What Matters

  • Generous amp; Growing PTO: Start with a substantial paid time off package that increases every year you’re with us.
  • True Flexibility: Contract permitting, use Flex Time to work in a way that fits your life, not just your 8-to-5.
  • 11 Paid Days Off: Enjoy 6 fixed company holidays plus 5 Floating Holidays to use whenever you choose.

Invested in Your Future

  • 401(k) Match—Yours to Keep Instantly: We match up to 4% of your contributions. Both your contributions and the company match are yours from day one with no vesting wait-period.
  • Industry-Leading Education Support: Level up with up to $12,000 annually for tuition and certifications. We don't just hire talent; we grow it.

Health amp; Peace of Mind

  • Premium Healthcare, Lower Costs: High-quality medical plans paired with a Company-Sponsored HSA to help you save for the future.
  • Fully Covered Life Insurance: Breathe easy with life insurance up to $50K provided at zero cost to you.
  • Holistic Support: Access our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, financial coaching, and more.

...and that’s just the beginning!

Auria is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. 

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