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Sr Program Director Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

nLIGHT

Sr. Program Manager

Longmont, CO

$170K - $200K/yr

Who We Are nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation's leading developers of Directed ... The Program Manager will oversee program scope, cost, schedule, performance, and customer ...

nLIGHT

Sr. Program Manager

Longmont, CO · On-site

Who We Are nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation's leading developers of Directed ... The Program Manager will oversee program scope, cost, schedule, performance, and customer ...

Red 6

Senior Program Manager

Denver, CO · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

This role requires deep experience managing cost, schedule, and performance on complex defense programs, with direct responsibility for contract execution, customer engagement, and internal ...

Prosum Inc.

Senior PM IMO

Denver, CO · On-site

$55 - $67/hr

Senior Program Manager Pay Range: $55/hour to $67/hour The Senior Program Manager - Commercial ... program management, transformation, integration management, or strategic initiatives * Direct ...

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Sr Program Director information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Program Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sr Program Director, you need extensive experience in program management, strategic planning, and a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with project management software (such as MS Project, Jira, or Asana), budgeting tools, and certifications like PMP or PgMP are typically required. Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills set top candidates apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for aligning teams, managing complex initiatives, and ensuring organizational objectives are met efficiently.

How does a Sr Program Director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure program success?

As a Sr Program Director, collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential to align program goals, timelines, and deliverables. You will regularly coordinate with department leaders, project managers, and stakeholders from areas such as finance, marketing, and operations to ensure that all teams are working towards common objectives. Effective communication, facilitating regular status meetings, and resolving interdepartmental challenges are key responsibilities. This collaborative approach helps mitigate risks, fosters innovation, and ensures that programs are delivered on time and within scope.

What is a Sr Program Director?

A Sr Program Director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing multiple related projects or programs within an organization. They develop strategic goals, manage teams of project managers, and ensure that all programs align with the organization's objectives. Sr Program Directors also handle budgeting, stakeholder communication, and risk management to ensure the successful delivery of programs. Their work is critical in driving organizational growth and achieving long-term goals.

What is the difference between Sr Program Director vs Program Manager?

AspectSr Program DirectorProgram Manager
CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s degree, certifications like PMP often preferredBachelor's degree, PMP or similar certifications common
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, overseeing multiple projects or programs at senior levelsOperational focus, managing specific projects within a program
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, government agencies, and non-profitsCommon across various industries including tech, healthcare, and finance

The Sr Program Director typically holds a higher strategic role, overseeing multiple programs and aligning them with organizational goals. Program Managers focus on executing specific projects within a program, ensuring deliverables are met. Both roles require strong leadership and project management skills, but the Sr Program Director operates at a more senior, strategic level.

What are popular job titles related to Sr Program Director jobs in Colorado?

For Sr Program Director jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Sr Program Director jobs in Colorado look for?

The top searched job categories for Sr Program Director jobs in Colorado are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Sr Program Director jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Sr Program Director job openings:

Sr Program Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sr Program Director job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Program Manager

nLIGHT

Longmont, CO

$170K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Location: Longmont, CO (onsite)
Experience: 10+ years of experience managing DoD programs
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related field
Compensation: $170,000-$200,000 depending upon education and experience.
 
Who We Are
nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading developers of Directed Energy systems, which is a top modernization priority of the Department of Defense.  Our High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Adaptive Optical (AO) systems, and Acquisition / Pointing / Tracking (APT) solutions are designed to overcome the most difficult challenges facing the deployment of high energy laser solutions to the United States military and our allies.  Located in Longmont, Colorado, nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated business that leverages internal capabilities – from semiconductor device through target identification – to develop systems that are both high-performance and cost-effective.  We continue to invest in capabilities, facilities and technology to bring leading edge HEL solutions to the warfighter. This is a great opportunity to work at a company that is on the leading edge of the HEL industry and provides a culture of excellence and commitment to delivering solutions to the warfighter and our country.  
 
Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).
 
Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of complex Department of Defense (DoD) programs. The Program Manager will oversee program scope, cost, schedule, performance, and customer satisfaction while ensuring compliance with DoD policies, contractual requirements, and organizational standards. This role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, and experience working within DoD acquisition frameworks. The candidate will be responsible for successful execution and programmatic tracking support for High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems and/or HEL Beam Control Systems (BCS).  Work with Program Technical Leads to develop and manage program plans, resource allocation, schedule, budget, risk definition and tracking, and track execution against program plans and metrics.  Provide regular written and verbal reports to peers and management.  Implement appropriate business and operations systems in support of program execution needs.  The Program Manager must be expert at working with MSOffice based tools (Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, Word) to support budget management, bill of materials management, cost tracking and controls, and schedule management and controls.  Work with Program Technical Leads, engineering teams, and accounting and supply chain to document and report task progress and set goals and objectives.  Support configuration management through the system design, development, integration, and test phases.  Responsible for supporting the development and integration of artifacts for formal DoD acquisition design reviews (Status Reports, CoDR, SRR, PDR, IBR, etc.).  The ideal candidate has a strong technical background, DoD Program Management experience, and is strong at mentorship, teaching, and has experience with agile software development principles and processes.

All applicants must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.  Further information on requirements to obtain a security clearance is available at: https://www.dcsa.mil/mc/pv/mbi/gicp/.  Please review this information before applying.
 
Responsibilities:
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with DoD customers, stakeholders, and subcontractors.
  • Lead program planning, budgeting, scheduling, and performance tracking.
  • Manage program teams across engineering, logistics, security, and support functions.
  • Develop program documentation (e.g., Program Management Plans, risk registers, decision briefs).
  • Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and earned value management (EVM) metrics as required.
  • Prepare and present program status reports, milestones, and reviews (e.g., IPTs, PMRs).
  • Identify, mitigate, and manage program risks, issues, and opportunities.
  • Oversee subcontractor performance and contract modifications.
  • Actively manage technical teams to ensure efficient and rapid execution of complex systems
Required Experience / Capability:
  • Commitment to Excellence. Attention to Detail.  Pride in Workmanship.
  • 10+ years of experience managing DoD programs
  • Demonstrated experience working with DoD customers and acquisition processes.
  • Proven ability to manage complex programs with cross-functional teams.
  • Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
  • Ability to manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
  • Experience with risk management and issue resolution.
  • Proficiency with program management tools (MS Project, Jira, EVM tools, etc.).
  • Ability to work in a dynamic environment and maintain composure and good working relationships under pressure.
  • Superior problem-solving ability and ability to absorb information from multiple sources to reach a solution.
  • Develop and maintain documentation in support of formal DoD acquisition design reviews (i.e. CoDR, SRR, PDR, IBR, CDR, TRR, etc.)
  • Technical Presentation and Report Writing Skills (i.e. good technical writing skills are critical)
  • Vendor management experience.
 
Additional Desired Experience / Capability
  • Master’s degree (MBA, MS Systems Engineering, or related field).
  • Experience in functional and performance requirements allocation and tracking.
  • Experience in System Engineering tools: Model-based Systems Engineering tools.
  • Experience with High Energy Laser systems.
  • Experience with electro-optical systems including acquisition, pointing, and tracking and/or Adaptive Optical (AO) Systems.
  • Configuration Management for laser and electro-optical systems, in particular for high power applications.
 
Benefits Summary:  
  • 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year 
  • 11 paid Holidays 
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
  • Tuition Assistance Program 
  • Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents 
  • Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100% 
  • Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting  

  

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at HR@nlightdefense.com.  

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