Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager - Palomar Products - Defense - 9/80 work scheduleAre you a Senior Program Manager who enjoys owning complex programmes end-to-end, rather than just reporting status?Do you like working at the intersection of engineering, customers, and delivery, challenging assumptions and keeping programmes moving?Want full accountability for cost, schedule, risk, and outcomes on real hardware products?If yes, this is a great opportunity to join Palomar Products, a defence electronics business delivering mission-critical, hardware-led products. You’ll take ownership of major contracts from award through delivery, acting as the single point of accountability and driving cross-functional teams to success.The OpportunityJoin Palomar Products, a well-established defence electronics manufacturer with long-term programmes and customersOwn complex product development programmes from contract award through product deliveryAct as the primary customer interface, managing communication, expectations, and deliveryDrive schedule, cost, and risk management across engineering, operations, finance, and supply chainGain exposure to business-level decision-making beyond a single programme or siteAs a Senior Program Manager you’ll be:Leading end-to-end programmes spanning hardware, firmware, and software developmentDeveloping and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) to manage milestones, resources, and delivery commitmentsOwning programme financials, including budgets, forecasts, EAC/ETC, margin, and billing milestonesLeading all major phase-gate reviews (Kickoff, SRR, PDR, CDR, FCA/PCA)Proactively identifying and managing programme risks, issues, and recovery plansCoordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and financeSupporting new business pursuits, proposals, and cost/effort estimatesMentoring junior programme managers and strengthening programme execution disciplineThe Successful Senior Program Manager will bring:Experience managing complex product development programmes, not IT or software-only projectsBackground in hardware-led systems (defence, avionics, embedded systems, electronics, or similar)pConfidence leading PDR/CDR events and constructively challenging engineering teamsStrong ownership of schedule recovery, cost control, and risk managementExperience acting as the customer-facing lead on active contractsA proactive, self-starter mindset with the ability to make decisions under uncertaintyUS Citizenship (ITAR environment)The ideal Senior Program Manager will have:BS or MS in Engineering (or related discipline)4+ years’ experience in Program Management and/or Product DevelopmentProven experience delivering products from development through to productionFamiliarity with formal lifecycle and compliance frameworks (DO-178 / DO-254 / DO-160 a plus)Compensation: Up to $185k (flexible DOE) + benefitsLocation : Rancho Santa Margarita , CA Career ProgressionThis role offers a clear pathway beyond Technical Program Management. High-performing TPMs at Palomar Products can progress into Business Unit Manager roles, taking ownership of multiple programmes, teams, and P&L responsibility, with a longer-term pathway into senior leadership and VP-level roles across the wider organisation.Palomar continues to invest across programmes and sites, offering long-term career development rather than site-specific progression.Apply now and receive feedback within one business day!