Confidential Client – Defense Technology Company About the Company Our client is a venture-backed defense technology company building advanced autonomous systems designed to operate in GPS-denied and highly contested environments. Founded in the early 2020s and headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, the company partners closely with U.S. government organizations and industry leaders to deliver mission-critical capabilities directly into the field. Backed by top-tier investors, the company is entering a period of accelerated execution and growth. Role Overview The Director of Program Management will lead delivery across a portfolio of complex, technical defense programs. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, business development, manufacturing, finance, and customer stakeholders, and is responsible for ensuring contractual, technical, and operational success. The ideal candidate brings structure to complexity, drives accountability, and thrives in fast-moving environments where priorities evolve quickly. This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance strategic oversight with day-to-day execution while scaling a high-performing program management team. Key Responsibilities • Own end-to-end execution for major technical programs, ensuring delivery against contractual milestones and mission objectives • Lead and scale a team of program and mission success managers, instilling strong delivery discipline and operational rigor • Serve as the primary connector across engineering, manufacturing, business development, finance, and external partners • Establish and maintain program governance including cadence, health tracking, risk management, and executive reporting • Drive internal readiness through resource forecasting, budget oversight, and coordination of logistics for domestic and international programs • Build trusted relationships with customers and partners to support long-term program success and future growth Qualifications • 10+ years of experience leading complex, technical programs • Proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams across hardware and software environments • Strong understanding of product development lifecycles and systems integration • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical detail for senior audiences • Comfortable operating in fast-paced, evolving organizations • Ability to obtain a U.S. government security clearance • Willingness to travel as required Location Seattle, WA (with travel up to ~30%
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