SSN(X) PROGRAM MANAGER

The Role

The SSN(X) Program Manager will play a critical role in shaping the future of undersea warfare capability, ensuring the program is positioned, resourced, and executed to meet evolving national security needs while strengthening the industrial base.

The SSN(X) Program Manager owns the overall program strategy, including capture, planning, build strategy, supplier engagement, strategic initiative program management, and functional support. This leader is accountable for developing and managing the overall program plan and integrated master schedule to deliver the SSN(X) program to cost, schedule, and technical objectives.

Key responsibilities:

Program strategy, planning, and governance

• Define and lead the overarching SSN(X) program strategy, aligning technical, commercial, and schedule objectives.  
• Develop and maintain the overall program plan, integrating requirements, scope, cost, risk, and schedule baselines.  
• Establish program governance, reviews, and performance metrics to ensure delivery to cost, schedule, and technical requirements.  
• Proactively identify, manage, and mitigate program risks and opportunities.
• Lead capture strategy for SSN(X), including competitive positioning, customer engagement, and win themes.  
• Work with government relations to shape requirements, acquisition strategies, and opportunity pipeline for SSN(X) and undersea warfare initiatives.

Overall program schedule management

• Guide planning teams to align work breakdown structure (WBS), schedule logic, and key milestones across design, build, test, and delivery.
• Own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and master schedule, ensuring all phases, tasks, and dependencies are represented in a single, time-phased plan.
• Monitor schedule performance, driving recovery and acceleration plans where required.

Supplier development and partnership strategy

• Define supplier and partnership strategy for key systems, technologies, and services.  
• Identify and qualify strategic suppliers and partners to support program objectives.  
• Negotiate and manage strategic partnership frameworks and long-term agreements in coordination with supply chain and legal.  

Build strategy and execution

• Support SSN(X) build strategy lead to incorporate build strategy decisions into impacted areas of engineering, supply chain and other functions, including make-versus-buy, modularization, sequencing, and facility loading.  
• Coordinate with engineering and operations to ensure design-for-build and design-for-supportability are embedded early.  
• Integrate advanced manufacturing, digital engineering, and model-based approaches into the build strategy where value-adding.  

Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management

• Serve as the central integrator across engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and program controls.  
• Communicate program strategy, status, risks, and decisions to senior leadership, customers, and partners.  
• Build and lead a high-performing program team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Must Have

Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of applicable, progressive professional and/or supervisory work experience; Master's Degree and 6 years of relevant experience

One of the following may be used as equivalent to Bachelor's Degree to meet minimum qualifications:

• NNS Apprentice School graduate 
• Navy Nuclear Power School (NNPS) graduate
• Associate's Degree or other formal 2 year program and 2 years of relevant exempt experience or 4 years of relevant non-exempt experience
• Military Paygrade E-5 or above military experience 
• High School/GED and 4 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant exempt experience
• High School/GED and 8 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant non-exempt experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in program management for complex defense, aerospace, or maritime systems.  
• Experience in submarine design, requirements, and/or operations
• Familiarity with integrated master scheduling, program planning, and project controls in a complex environment
• Experience leading supplier strategy, partnership development, or complex subcontract management.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.  
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills
• Submarine XO, engineer, or NAVSEA Team Submarine Program