Project Manager (Defense Programs)

Our client Moodro is a rapidly growing defense technology company developing autonomous counter-UAS solutions designed to operate in real combat conditions and to secure civilians from the increased threat of drones. We work on the hardest challenges to stay ahead of the evolving threats. We are committed to our mission and value candidates who work with the same sense of urgency and diligence.

Our technologies are actively deployed and utilized in operational environments, delivering critical electronic warfare (EW), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and counter-drone capabilities. Moodro has successfully validated our suite of technologies for use in real-world missions. Participation in multiple DIU Projects and competitive selection for the JIATF-401 Pathfinder C-UAS Marketplace secures Moodro’s global market position.

Our team includes veterans, engineers, and defense professionals who continuously test, refine, and improve solutions in real field conditions. As we expand our U.S. operations and scale production, we are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead customer programs from proposal and contract award through successful delivery and sustainment.

Position Overview

The Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end execution of customer contracts and programs. This individual assumes ownership of awarded contracts and is accountable for delivery performance, customer satisfaction, program profitability, schedule adherence, and risk management.

This is a highly visible, customer-facing role that requires close collaboration and effective communication with Business Development, Engineering, Production, Procurement, Compliance, and executive leadership. The successful candidate will have experience managing complex systems-based defense programs and will thrive in a fast-paced environment where execution, accountability, and adaptability are critical.

The Project Manager serves as the operational owner of the contract once it has been awarded, ensuring that commitments made during capture and proposal phases are successfully executed.

Key Responsibilities

Program Execution & Contract Management

• Lead programs from contract award through final delivery, customer acceptance, invoicing, and closeout.
• Own overall program performance, including schedule, scope, budget, profitability, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and resource allocations.
• Track program status and proactively identify issues before they impact cost, schedule, or performance.
• Manage multiple programs simultaneously, including production contracts, IDIQ vehicles, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).

Proposal & Capture Support

• Partner with Business Development during proposal and capture efforts.
• Review statements of work, schedules, and pricing assumptions to ensure programs can be executed profitably and successfully.
• Identify missing scope elements, hidden costs, operational requirements, and execution risks prior to contract award.
• Provide programmatic input for customer proposals, demonstrations, and solution planning.

Customer Management

• Serve as the primary customer point of contact during program execution.
• Build trusted relationships with government, military, and commercial customers.
• Lead customer communications, status reviews, progress reporting, issue resolution, and expectation management.
• Coordinate customer acceptance activities, training events, demonstrations, FAT/SAT activities, and operational support.

Operations & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Coordinate all operational activities required to execute awarded programs, including:
  • Production planning and execution
  • Procurement and supplier management
  • Logistics and shipping
  • Documentation and configuration management
  • Customer training materials
  • Travel planning and field support
  • Base access requirements
  • Foreign national clearance coordination
  • Installation and deployment activities
• Partner closely with Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Compliance teams to ensure successful delivery.
• Maintain visibility into production schedules, supplier performance, quality metrics, and delivery commitments.

Risk Management & Decision Making

• Identify, communicate, and mitigate program risks early.
• Escalate issues proactively with clear recommendations and recovery plans.
• Lead decision-making when facing supplier delays, design changes, production challenges, integration issues, or customer-driven modifications.
• Drive corrective actions while balancing customer expectations, contractual obligations, and program profitability.

Financial Management

• Own program financial performance and P&L accountability.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts, margins, change orders, and resource utilization.
• Ensure programs meet financial targets while maintaining customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

Hands-On Leadership

• Travel to customer sites, military installations, test events, production facilities, and field exercises as required.
• Verify critical deliverables, inventories, equipment configurations, and deployment readiness firsthand when necessary.
• Remain engaged in operational details while maintaining strategic oversight of program objectives.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder eligible to work in the United States.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Program Management, Operations, or related field.
• 7+ years of project or program management experience within defense, aerospace, government contracting, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing Department of Defense (DoD) programs and government customers.
• Strong understanding of FAR, government contracting requirements, contract deliverables, and defense acquisition processes.
• Proven experience owning program financial performance and P&L accountability.
• Experience managing hardware-based programs involving physical products, manufacturing, production, deployment, or integration.
• Experience supporting production startups, supplier selection, make-versus-buy decisions, and operational scaling efforts.
• Ability to travel approximately one week per month.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials.
• Experience with electronic warfare (EW), SIGINT, UAS/counter-UAS, defense electronics, sensors, communications systems, or related technologies.
• Experience supporting Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), military exercises, training events, or field deployments.
• Experience managing international programs or coordinating with globally distributed teams.

What Success Looks Like

The successful Project Manager consistently delivers programs on time, within budget, and in compliance with customer requirements. They build strong customer relationships, proactively manage risks, drive operational excellence, and create alignment across technical and operational teams.

They are trusted by leadership, respected by teammates, and viewed by customers as a reliable partner who solves problems and delivers results.

Who Will Thrive Here

We are looking for someone who is:

• Assertive without ego.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions and speaking up when risks emerge.
• Transparent about problems and proactive about creating solutions.
• Highly accountable and ownership-driven.
• Collaborative and team-oriented.
• Equally comfortable in customer meetings, production facilities, field exercises, and executive reviews.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Adaptable in a dynamic defense environment where priorities can shift quickly.

Who Is Not a Fit

This role is unlikely to be a fit for individuals who:

• Primarily manage through status reports and delegation.
• Avoid difficult conversations or delay escalation of issues.
• Prefer software-only environments and lack experience with hardware delivery.
• Focus solely on task completion without understanding broader business and customer impacts.
• Rely on authority rather than influence and collaboration to achieve results.

If you are passionate about supporting mission-critical defense technologies and want to play a key role in delivering capabilities that matter in the real world, we encourage you to apply.