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1796 - Senior Program Manager/Director, Navy Programs & Growth

SOLUTE Careers

Patuxent, MDContract$170–220K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$170–220K/yr
Location
Patuxent, MD
Schedule
Contract
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

PMP Or DAWIA Or Equivalent Credential, requiredSecret clearance, requiredMaster's degree, required

Job overview

Sigma Defense seeks a Senior Program Manager / Director, Navy Programs & Growth to support program management and business development at Patuxent River NAS. The role serves as a senior on-site representative and primary interface with Government customers and industry partners. It is contingent on the successful award of a contract and includes regional growth activities and, upon award, responsibility for program execution.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Navy Acquisition Processes, requiredSystems Engineering, requiredProgram Management, requiredDefense Contracting, requiredLeadership, requiredCommunication, requiredOrganizational Skills, requiredStakeholder Management, requiredBusiness Development, requiredCapture Management, requiredMicrosoft Project, requiredPrimavera P6, requiredExcel, requiredPowerPoint, requiredWord, requiredPower BI, requiredSharePoint, requiredTeams, requiredNavy ERP, requiredPIEE / WAWF, requiredJira, requiredConfluence, requiredAdobe Acrobat Pro, required

Qualifications

Retired Military O-6+ or GS-15+ or Equivalent, requiredNAVAIR Engineering and Acquisition Experience, requiredEstablished Patuxent River Relationships, requiredComplex DoW Program Management Experience, requiredSenior NAVAIR or Navy Acquisition Leadership, requiredDahlgren and Fort Belvoir Relationships, requiredSenior Program Leadership Experience, requiredMajor DoW Contract Wins, requiredContract Transition Experience, requiredPMP or DAWIA or Equivalent Credential, requiredSecret Clearance or Ability to Obtain, requiredU.S. Citizenship, required

Benefits

Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Tuition Assistance

Full job description

Sigma Defense is seeking a Senior Program Manager / Director, Navy Programs & Growth to join our team at Patuxent River NAS in MD. The hired candidate will support local program management and business development activities, serving as a senior on-site representative and primary interface with Government customers and industry partners.

This is a contingent position that is pending award of contract. This means that the position is subject to the successful awarding of a contract and will be confirmed once the contract is finalized. The candidate selected for this role will be offered the position on the condition that the contract is awarded to our organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Sigma Defense Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Requirements

  • Retired military O-6+, former GS-15+, or senior DoW contractor with Director-level or equivalent leadership experience.

  • Extensive experience working within or directly supporting the NAVAIR engineering and acquisition organizations at Patuxent River.

  • Strong understanding of Navy acquisition processes, systems engineering, program management, and defense contracting.

  • Established professional relationships within the Patuxent River Government and industry communities.

  • Demonstrated experience managing complex DoW programs, technical organizations, or major contracts.

  • Proven ability to identify and develop business opportunities, cultivate senior customer relationships, and contribute to capture and growth strategies.

  • Excellent executive-level communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.

  • Prior senior leadership experience within NAVAIR, NAWCAD, Naval Surface Warfare Centers, PEOs, or other major Navy acquisition organizations.

  • Existing relationships and familiarity with Government organizations and acquisition activities at Dahlgren and Fort Belvoir.

  • Experience serving as a Program Manager, Program Executive, Engineering Director, Department Head, or equivalent senior leadership position.

  • Demonstrated success in business development, capture management, and winning major DoW contracts.

  • Experience transitioning new contract awards into successful program execution, including staffing, subcontractor integration, and financial management.

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.

Mandatory Certifications:

  • PMP certification, DAWIA acquisition certification, or equivalent program management credentials.

Computer Programs/Software:

  • Microsoft Project

  • Primavera P6

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Word

  • Power BI

  • SharePoint

  • Teams

  • Navy ERP

  • PIEE / WAWF

  • Jira

  • Confluence

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro

Personnel Clearance Level:

  • Candidate must possess or have the ability to obtain an active Secret security clearance or higher.

  • A clearance will not be sponsored.

Education Requirements:

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering, acquisition, program management, or related field of study.

Essential Job Duties (not all-inclusive):

  • Develop and maintain strong relationships across NAVAIR, Naval Air Warfare Centers, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and associated engineering and acquisition organizations.

  • Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities across Patuxent River, Dahlgren, and Fort Belvoir, aligning company capabilities with emerging customer requirements and priorities.

  • Support capture strategies, customer engagements, teaming arrangements, proposal development, and business growth initiatives.

  • Provide senior-level program management oversight, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements, technical objectives, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.

  • Coordinate with company leadership, engineering teams, business development personnel, and external stakeholders to support successful program execution and growth.

  • Identify emerging requirements, acquisition opportunities, program risks, and strategic partnerships to strengthen the company's presence in the region.

  • Upon major contract award, assume primary responsibility for program execution, including personnel leadership, financial performance, subcontractor management, customer engagement, and contract deliverables.

Salary Range: $170,000 - $220,000 annually.

Benefits

  • Dental and Vision Insurance

  • Medical Insurance to Include HSA, FSA, and DFSA Plans

  • Life and AD&D coverage

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

  • 401(k) Plan with Company Matching Contributions

  • 160 Hours of Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • 12 (Floating) Holidays

  • Educational Assistance

  • Highly Competitive Salary

How this job compares

Set against the 10,805 open Program Management jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 11, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$170–220K/yr
  • Maryland median$125–198K/yr233 salary ranges
  • US median$126–202K/yr8,293 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $195K, is 20% above the Maryland median midpoint ($162K) — in the middle half of Program Management salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 320 open Program Management jobs in Maryland and 10,805 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
Program Management postings that state a minimum ask for 7 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 5 to 10 years (9,318 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a master's degree; 208 of the 10,805 open Program Management jobs (2%) ask for a master's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 11, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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