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Principal Program Manager - Production Operations

Leonardo DRS
Germantown, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 9 Dec 2025
💰 $203,068/yr($130,801/yr – $203,068/yr)

About the role

Job ID: 113359

 

DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. 

Job Summary

Responsible for leading all Production program management contracts and deliverables. This includes full life cycle management from New Product Introduction, to Production, and Sustainment) of the US business. Ensures proper methods are followed to track program cost, schedules and performance across the portfolio. Lead and or support bid and proposal activities for routine production of commercial defense items. Responsibilities are conducted under the guidance of senior level management (Sr. Director of Programs).

Manages and ensures the timely completion of contract requirements for production programs from start to completion to ensure that costs, schedule, lead times, capacity and goals are met, and works closely with Operations and Supply Chain. Assists in providing contractual interface, communication, and coordination with internal and external customer on matters pertaining to existing production operations contracts. Uses specific knowledge in production operations and planning to research, plan, communicate and achieve objectives through program / project team. Facilitate the input from Operations to assure production readiness for new programs and awards. Engage in production engineering decisions during new product integration.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage and direct the daily execution of multiple programs within contract requirements to assure that cost, schedules and performance goals are met

• Responsible for leading the production program management function.

• Ensures proper methods are followed to track program cost, schedules and performance, and on-time delivery.

• Track all program cost, schedules and performance against established program milestones; reporting the status to management stakeholders on a regular basis

• Develop and implement recovery plans for yellow and red programs (i.e. schedule, technical performance)

• May be required to ensure the overall execution of material on schedule and on budget for a business area

• May be required to collaborate on various tasks with various cross-functional project teams

• Ensures program methodologies for the business and the program management directives are followed

• Work closely with existing customers, and obtain feedback on the company’s performance

• Work closely with business development, marketing and sales to enhance the business portfolio

• Must be able to lead cross-functional teams in a matrix-based organization and effectively lead across organizations in a flexible and rapid-moving environment

Secondary Accountabilities

  • Develop and understand principles of process improvement (i.e. Lean Six Sigma)
  • May require 10+ year in the in DoD program and/or materials management and in production manufacturing operation utilizing MRP/ERP depending upon the job discipline
  • May require knowledge of DoD FAR procurement regulations
  • May require knowledge of MRP/ERP with a solid understanding of electro-mechanical assembly operations, bills of material, demand material planning, and the supply chain purchasing process

Qualifications

  • 10+ years relevent experience.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain or Business degree may be preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience depending upon the job discipline
  • Knowledge of program management tools and procedures
  • Solid leadership and management skills 
  • Experience throughout the program lifecycle from development through sustainment to include: proposal development, requirements decomposition, generation of system and subsystem statements of work and subcontracts, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts including implementation cost reduction and performance improvement efforts
  • Experience with earned value cost accounting and reporting; experience with metrics for assessing and reporting program progress, productivity and variance analysis
  • Experience in finance, contracting, export regulations, engineering, logistics, manufacturing and supply chain management
  • Solid problem solving skills
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Experience with managing manpower planning, project reviews, scheduling and budget control
  • Ability to manage aerospace/defense programs as a prime or subcontractor to a domestic or foreign mili

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Company

Leonardo DRS

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