Saronic Technologies · 4 months ago
Program Manager - Major Autonomous Shipbuilding Programs
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
12+ years expSaronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms. They are seeking an accomplished Program Manager to lead a shipbuilding program, overseeing cost, schedule, and performance across all phases from acquisition to sustainment. This role involves ensuring the successful integration of advanced naval platforms and serving as a key interface with Navy stakeholders and contractors.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)ManufacturingMarine TechnologyMilitarySecurity
No H1B
Security Clearance Required
Responsibilities
Lead an industry shipbuilding program with the potential scale and rigor of an Acquisition Category (ACAT) I effort, from design through lifecycle sustainment
Translate Navy and DoD customer objectives into executable program plans, aligning cost, schedule, and performance with mission priorities
Guide multidisciplinary industry teams through complex integration efforts while collaborating with Navy program offices and partners
Develop and manage integrated schedules, program baselines, budgets, and risk frameworks
Apply disciplined systems engineering and acquisition processes across hull, mechanical & electrical (HM&E), combat systems, autonomy, and sustainment
Oversee integration of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE), ensuring timely and interoperable incorporation of subsystem and weapons technologies
Drive producibility, scalability, and shipyard readiness to support rapid deployment and sustainment
Ensure compliance with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards and relevant Navy requirements and DOD regulations/CDRLs
Ensure disciplined application of systems engineering processes, including development of CONOPS, requirements deconstruction, and traceability, with a maintained Requirements Verification Traceability Matrix (RVTM) to validate contract deliverables and mission objectives
Support technical demonstrations, shipyard trials, lab and field testing, and integration activities with Navy and external partners
Drive iterative design-build-test-risk reduction cycles across hull, HM&E, combat systems, autonomy, and weapons integration
Oversee development of resilient shipboard software and hardware systems, ensuring integration with Navy Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and government-defined standards
Serve as a trusted key industry interface with NAVSEA, PEOs, program offices, and fleet stakeholders to ensure alignment with customer objectives
Build and manage relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and subsystem primes to deliver integrated platforms at scale
Represent the company in Navy-led working groups, milestone reviews, and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs)
Provide programmatic reporting and briefings to Navy stakeholders and senior company leadership
Engage with academic and research partners to incorporate innovation, autonomy, and advanced technologies into shipbuilding programs where applicable
Support business development and capture activities by shaping technical proposals, providing programmatic input, and ensuring customer alignment for follow-on opportunities
Contribute to proposals and capture activities, ensuring technical credibility, level of effort, and programmatic rigor in submissions
Partner with internal growth and strategy teams to identify and qualify new opportunities aligned with Navy shipbuilding priorities
Support development of long-term business strategies, customer engagement plans, and competitive positioning
Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework, including formal risk registers, to proactively mitigate technical, schedule, financial, and industrial base risks
Deliver transparent reporting on program performance to Navy stakeholders and internal company leadership
Provide cost and schedule variance analysis, milestone reports, and readiness assessments
Define and track technical performance metrics tied to integration, sustainment, and fleet availability
Provide detailed financial reporting and variance analysis to ensure strict adherence to cost, schedule, and technical baselines, across firm-fixed-price and other contract types
Deliver contractual reports and CDRLs in compliance with Navy requirements, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
Ensure company compliance with government security requirements, including classified material handling, cybersecurity, and OPSEC standards
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, naval architecture, or related technical field (Master's preferred)
12+ years of DoD program management experience, with at least 8+ years in shipbuilding or major defense acquisition programs of comparable scale
Demonstrated expertise in lifecycle management, acquisition processes, and integration of GFE and CFE across cutting edge ship platforms
Proven success in managing large, multi-billion-dollar budgets and multi-year program baselines
Experience coordinating with subsystem and weapons primes for complex system-of-systems integration
Strong leadership and communication skills, including experience presenting to Navy customers and senior company executives
Active DoD Secret clearance (Top Secret w/ SCI eligibility preferred)
Preferred
DAWIA Level III (or equivalent) in Program Management
Prior experience delivering shipbuilding programs with NAVSEA, PEO Ships, PEO USC, or other major Navy acquisition organizations
Experience overseeing shipyard readiness, full rate production throughput, and industrial base management
Familiarity with congressional budget processes and Navy PPBE
PMP certification or equivalent
Experience executing programs under multiple acquisition pathways, including FAR-based contracts, OTAs, and rapid prototyping authorities
Direct Service Branch experience in program management, acquisitions, or related Executive Branch experience
Proficiency in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, or Arabic is preferred
Benefits
Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care Saronic pays 99% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office
Company
Saronic Technologies
Saronic is building cutting-edge unmanned surface vehicles that enable maritime security and domain awareness by combining best-in-class hardware, software and artificial intelligence into one scalable, fully integrated platform.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$845.5MKey Investors
Elad GilAndreessen HorowitzCaffeinated Capital
2025-02-18Series C· $600M
2024-07-19Series B· $175.5M
2023-10-09Series A· $55M
Leadership Team
Rob Lehman
Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer
Vibhav Altekar
Co-Founder & CTO
Recent News
2025-12-15
Company data provided by crunchbase