(Senior) Program Manager - Defense Innovation & Delivery

Job description

Orcrist is building a next generation data intelligence platform using cutting-edge technologies. We're handling petabyte-scale data with sub-second queries. Our product is a Kubernetes‑based platform delivered as B2B SaaS or as a self‑hosted on‑prem solution, including air‑gapped deployments. We enable customers across defense, law enforcement, and enterprise to turn mission-critical data into actionable intelligence. ### Role We're looking for a (Senior) Program Manager to join our Business/Government Development team. In this role, you'll own the entire path from a prioritized opportunity to a successfully delivered and scalable customer program. You will translate customer needs into concrete project concepts and prototypes, leading delivery across defense, security, and public-sector environments while bridging the gap between capture, product, and operational users. ### What you'll do - Convert prioritized leads and customer needs into concrete, funded project opportunities together with Government Development, Business Development, and Product. - Work directly with public-sector customers and operational users to understand complex operational problems, user needs, and procurement logic. - Structure and coordinate prototypes, demonstrators, minimum viable products (MVPs), and pilot projects with clear test scenarios and decision milestones. - Take end-to-end responsibility for program delivery post-award, managing scope, timeline, budget, technical implementation, dependencies, and risks. - Build and maintain trusted relationships with users, decision-makers, procurement bodies, and external technology or consortium partners. - Document customer feedback and operational insights systematically, translating them into product decisions and reusable platform capabilities. - Establish binding governance, reporting, and decision-making structures to ensure contractual obligations and customer expectations are consistently met. ### About you - 6+ years of relevant professional experience in program management, project management, innovation management, solution delivery, or technical business development. - Proven track record of converting early leads or customer needs into funded projects and delivering complex, cross-functional customer programs. - Demonstrable experience in defense, security, government, or comparably regulated public-sector environments. - Experience structuring pilot projects or prototypes with technical teams and operational users, especially where requirements are not fully defined upfront. - Entrepreneurial mindset with strong ownership, structured execution, and the ability to connect strategic objectives with operational delivery. - Business fluent German and English (C1+). - Willingness to travel regularly (approx. 30–40% within Germany and Europe). - Work authorization in Germany and willingness to undergo a security clearance. ### What We Offer - **Remote-first, Germany-wide:** Work from wherever you do your best work, with regular team gatherings in Berlin and other off-site locations. - **Flexibility by default:** Flexible working hours help you make work fit your life. - **Your setup, your way:** Get a personal home-office equipment budget to create a workspace that works for you. - **30 days of vacation:** Take the time you need to recharge and come back with fresh energy. - **Keep growing:** We invest in your personal and professional development. - **Get rewarded for impact:** Performance bonuses are tied to agreed objectives and key results. - **A warm welcome:** Every new team member gets a welcome goodie bag. - **Good people, good times:** From summer and Christmas parties to regular team gatherings, we make time to celebrate together. - **A mission that matters:** Work on challenges with tangible impact on public safety and national security.