SSN(X) PROGRAM MANAGER

SSN(X) Program Manager

Location: Newport News, Virginia, United States

Team: K38 Advanced Submarine Programs

Entity: Newport News Shipbuilding

US Citizenship Required for this Position: Yes

Full-Time Shift: 1st

Relocation: No relocation assistance available

Virtual/Telework Opportunity: No - Not eligible for telework

Travel Requirement: No

Clearance Required: No - Clearance Not Required to Start

Meet HII's Newport News Shipbuilding With more than 25,000 employees – including third-, fourth- and even fifth-generation shipbuilders – HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division is the largest industrial employer in Virginia. We're the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. Our diverse and innovative team of professionals ranges from skilled trades to project managers, engineers and software developers to solution architects, technical subject matter experts, and system users. We collaborate together at the forefront of technology, manufacturing, and integration of the most powerful and survivable naval ships in the world. Want to be part of the team? Apply today! We look forward to meeting you.

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

Why HII

We build the world's most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. HII's diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals. Recognized as one of America's top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people's safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you'll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career. Working at HII is more than a job - it's an opportunity to build a future.

We offer comprehensive benefits including: medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plan choices, on-site health centers, tele-medicine, wellness resources, employee assistance programs, savings plan options (401K), financial education and planning tools, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships, and more. Some benefits may vary depending on your specific division or work location. Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. U.S. Citizenship may be required for certain positions.

Do You Need Assistance? If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis.