Lead Program Manager

systemstechnologyresearch

Arlington, VA · Arlington · United States

Posted Aug 19, 2026

Full-time
Ocean Technology & Acoustic Systems (OTAS)

Job description

About the Team:

The Sensors Division within STR focuses on the development and analysis of advanced sensor systems in the RF, acoustic, and electro-optical domains. This includes the design and development of novel sensors and advanced information processing techniques from ideation to prototype implementations. The Ocean Technologies & Acoustic Systems (OTAS) Group develops and delivers advanced undersea sensors, payloads, and signal processing systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications.

The Role:

The OTAS Group is seeking a Program Manager with a highly operational centric undersea-warfare background to manage a portfolio of programs focused on future undersea systems and advanced signal processing. This position also requires extensive knowledge of Navy and IC customer structure and needs. Prior experience working within the Navy signal processing R&D and IC is highly beneficial. In this role you will manage multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, scientists, and engineers spread across multiple STR campuses to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives on innovative, complex, and challenging national security programs. Your areas of specific focus will include building and executing programmatic baselines, including personnel, deliverables, and subcontractor / contract manufacturer management plans while anticipating risks, resolving resource, security, and contracting challenges, and meeting or managing customer, sponsor, and leadership expectations.

A successful candidate will have recent and significant program manager experience in several of the following areas: undersea warfare, sonar systems, ocean engineering, modeling and simulation, test & evaluation, hardware design, software architecture, uncrewed underwater vehicles, resource management, acoustic data analysis, signal processing, and/or communications. This position requires competency in leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams, briefing senior leadership, cultivating positive, collaborative, and productive work environments, and a strong proficiency in all aspects of program management. Strong interpersonal, communication, mentorship, and peer-leadership skills are also required.

What you will do:

Effectively execute multiple programs ensuring cost, schedule and technical program metrics are being tracked and within plan
Lead proposals by providing expertise in proposal development while ensuring adherence to a gated capture process
Create Subcontractor statements of work and manage/track Subcontractors to ensure proper execution
Work with contract manufacturers to build up to LRIP and then meet LRIP milestones with high quality
Lead multi-functional teams
Provide regular program briefs to Group and Division Leadership
Create and maintain an environment that fosters collaboration by giving clear direction and constructive feedback to the team
Monitor progress against goals: anticipate risks, resolve issues, and initiate corrective actions as appropriate

Who you are:

Active TS/SSBI clearance with SCI and ability to gain and SAP accreditations, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government
Technical Degree and 8+ years of prior relevant experience. In lieu of degree, extensive experience with government contracting, research and development (R&D), scientific & technical intelligence (S&TI), or advanced technology production will be considered
Program Manager or Control Account Manager experience in design and development and/or build contract including Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) definition, schedule generation, financial analysis/reporting, and resource management
Experience in Proposal Management including planning and cost estimation
Experience managing projects larger than $10M for the Department of War or IC.
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
Successful experience in leading and managing multi-discipline teams
Strong presentation and organizational skills

Even Better:

Experience with advanced undersea warfare system concepts, signal processing, underwater acoustics, and ocean engineering
Experience with sonar systems
Work Experience in government, FFRDC, or defense industry companies and sponsors
Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience
Contract manufacturing experience
Risk and Opportunity Management experience
Experience managing Research and Development programs
Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications including but not limited to MS Project, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of groundbreaking undersea systems that will shape the future of undersea defense. You will work alongside a passionate and talented team, tackling some of the most challenging and rewarding problems in the field. If you are passionate about managing programs that deliver advanced undersea technology that sailors depend on working, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and help us redefine what’s possible beneath the waves.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $147,000 - $200,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at appassist@str.us and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.