Director, Program Management (Autonomous Vehicle)

Job Description

About Ocean Aero:

Ocean Aero is an award-winning US company that has created the world’s first and only environmentally powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). Ocean Aero’s autonomous marine robot, the Triton, operates exclusively on wind and solar energy and performs long endurance missions on the ocean surface with the ability to dive below the waves for underwater operations. The Triton uses a complex array of custom-built sensors, marinized electronics and software systems to operate, sense and communicate in the environment.

Ocean Aero has a collaborative culture with plenty of opportunities for growth and ownership, and comprehensive benefits.

Role Description:

The Director, Program Management will be responsible for the overall coordination and execution of multiple Ocean Aero customer programs supporting US Navy, Marine Corps, Joint Force, and international customers. This role serves as the primary leader responsible for program performance, customer engagement, operational alignment, and technology transition activities associated with Ocean Aero's autonomous maritime systems. This will include leading customer interactions, managing program performance, cost, revenue, cash flow, schedule, proposal development, and working alongside technical leads on a variety of unmanned technologies.

The Director will lead cross-functional teams spanning engineering, operations, manufacturing, and customer stakeholders to deliver mission-ready capabilities that meet cost, schedule, technical, and operational objectives. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of defense program execution, systems integration, autonomous maritime operations, and the ability to translate evolving warfighter requirements into executable program plans and product roadmaps.

This position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and plays a critical role in ensuring Ocean Aero technologies successfully transition from development into operational Navy and defense missions.

Role Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead the execution of multiple customer programs to achieve cost, schedule, technical performance, and mission effectiveness objectives
• Serve as the primary interface with government customers, program offices, operational stakeholders, and executive leadership
• Review contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), and customer requirements to develop integrated program plans and work breakdown structures
• Identify, assess, communicate, and proactively mitigate program risks, ensuring timely resolution of technical, schedule, operational, and contractual issues
• Manage scope changes and communicate impacts to cost, schedule, technical execution, and operational outcomes

Navy & Operational Customer Engagement

• Serve as the primary interface with key stakeholders, ensuring program execution remains aligned with operational concepts, fleet priorities, and evolving warfighter requirements
• Coordinate with Navy warfare centers, fleet commands, program offices, and operational units to translate operator feedback into product improvements and future capability roadmaps
• Ensure program decisions balance technical, schedule, and cost objectives with mission effectiveness, operational utility, and survivability in contested maritime environments
• Lead planning and execution of operational demonstrations, fleet exercises, experimentation events, operational assessments, and technology transition activities supporting adoption of autonomous maritime capabilities

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, operations, sales, and field support teams to ensure successful delivery and deployment of autonomous maritime systems
• Drive alignment between technical development priorities and customer mission requirements
• Provide executive-level program reporting, status updates, and recommendations to company leadership and customers

Role Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive program management experience , including leadership of complex DoD, Navy, or defense programs involving hardware, software, systems integration, testing, and fielding
• Experience as a technology developer, systems integrator, or program leader delivering products and capabilities to government customers
• Demonstrated success managing programs through development, testing, operational evaluation, deployment, and customer transition
• Strong experience leading cross-functional teams and making technical, operational, schedule, and cost trade-off decisions
• Experience collaborating with government customers, contractors, operational users, and executive leadership
• Prior experience managing military or defense programs, including requirements management, operational planning, risk mitigation, customer engagement, and mission execution

Navy Mission & Operational Experience

• Understanding of US Navy operational concepts, maritime operations, and autonomous systems employment supporting:
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
• Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
• Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO)
• Experience supporting Navy, Marine Corps, or Joint Force customers through technology development, experimentation, exercises, operational assessments, or transition to Programs of Record
• Ability to engage effectively with operational commanders, fleet operators, warfare centers, acquisition organizations, and program offices to translate warfighter needs into executable program objectives and technical requirements
• Ability to translate strategic objectives and mission requirements into measurable program outcomes and product roadmaps

Skills

• Strong leadership, analytical problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Project and Microsoft Office tools
• Ability to build effective working relationships across engineering, operations, government, and executive stakeholders

Additional Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Clearance
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• Maintain valid driver license and personal vehicle insurance
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TWIC credential
• Successfully pass drug screening, background investigation, and motor vehicle screening requirements

Role Preferences:

• Prior military service or direct experience supporting US Navy, Marine Corps, or maritime defense programs
• Experience with autonomous maritime systems, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), autonomous sensing platforms, or hybrid autonomous systems operating in contested maritime environments
• Familiarity with Navy experimentation and transition organizations, including:

o Fleet Forces Command

o NAVSEA

o NAVAIR

o ONR

o DIU

o NavalX

o Navy Warfare Centers

• Experience supporting technology transition into Programs of Record or operational fleet adoption
• M.S. degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management, or related field.
• PMP, DAWIA Program Management, or equivalent defense acquisition certification.
• Understanding of software-intensive systems development, systems engineering, and autonomous platform integration