Program Director, Radar Programs

Location: Lanham, Maryland, United States

Department: Defense

Position Overview

We are seeking a Program Director to lead execution of a mission-critical program supporting a U.S. Government customer’s national security objective. The program is built around a dedicated, minimally modified derivative of AST's commercial satellite constellation, and encompasses the full lifecycle — satellite delivery, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit mission operations — under a firm-fixed-price, milestone-based contract structure.

Serving as the single point of accountability for the program, the Director will own the customer relationship and be responsible for overall programmatic execution, including schedule and risk management, while coordinating closely with cross-functional teams across Systems Engineering, Space Segment, Launch, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations. This is a high-visibility leadership position reporting directly to the Director of Program Management, with the opportunity to shape and influence how AST SpaceMobile Defense builds out its program management function.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as AST's primary program lead and customer point of contact, representing AST in program reviews, milestone negotiations, and day-to-day government customer engagement.
• Maintain an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and provide monthly programmatic status reporting covering technical progress, financial status, schedule status, and risk.
• Build and maintain a program risk registry (technical and programmatic) and drive mitigation actions across engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.
• Lead in-person program reviews, kickoff meetings, and periodic status briefings with the government customer, primarily in the Washington, D.C. area.
• Ensure compliance with program cost/schedule reporting requirements and program security and Operations Security (OPSEC) obligations
• Directly supervise and mentor program management staff supporting the program.
• Coordinate cross-functionally across Systems Engineering, Space Segment, Launch Segment, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations to ensure on-time, on-cost delivery against contract milestones.
• Support proposal development, rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) estimating for follow-on/expansion scope, and capture activities to grow the program.
• Stand up and mature PMO processes, tools, and standards for the defense subsidiary's growing program portfolio.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, business, or a related technical field required
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of 12 years of program management experience in the aerospace/defense industry, including direct experience managing firm-fixed-price, milestone-based U.S. Government or prime/subcontract programs.
• Experience managing satellite or space systems programs strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP certification
• Experience with DoD cost and schedule reporting frameworks
• Experience with satellite communications, optical inter-satellite links, or SATCOM ground segment programs
• Experience standing up or scaling a PMO within a growing defense-tech organization

Soft Skills:

• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams under schedule and cost pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy of program documentation and deliverables.

Technology Stack:

• MS Project or equivalent scheduling tools
• JIRA
• Microsoft Office Suite
• ERP/cost systems (e.g., Costpoint or NetSuite)

Security Clearance:

Must be a U.S. Citizen and possess (or be able to obtain and maintain) an active U.S. Security Clearance.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to travel periodically (estimated quarterly, with additional travel around key program milestones) to the Washington, D.C. area and other program locations.

This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.