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Program Manager, Unmanned Surface Vehicle

El Segundo, California, United States

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. 

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager with a strong technical background to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (sUSV). The successful candidate will own program cost, schedule, and technical performance (CSP) baselines from development, test, production, and sustainment, serving as the primary interface with potential customers (DoW, government agencies), internal engineering teams, operations teams, and supply chain partners. This role requires a rare blend of program management discipline and hands-on technical fluency in autonomous maritime domain.

Responsibilities:

  • Own full program P&L, including cost performance, schedule adherence (IMS/IMP), risk/opportunity management, and technical baseline control (EVMS-lite) across the program lifecycle.
  • Coordinate cross-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) spanning systems engineering, airframe, aerodynamics, guidance, propulsion, warhead/payload integration, avionics, software, manufacturing, quality, test, and logistics.
  • Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS); manage critical path and resolve schedule conflicts.
  • Manage program risk and opportunity registers; drive mitigation plans for technical, schedule, cost, and supply chain risks.
  • Support proposal development, including Basis of Estimate (BOE) generation, technical volume input, pricing strategy, and capture activities for new business and follow-on contracts.
  • Serve as primary point of contact for customer program offices (e.g., PEO, PM offices), leading program reviews (PMR, technical interchange meetings, milestone reviews).
  • Provide informed oversight across the full system lifecycle: requirements decomposition, System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary/Critical Design Review (PDR/CDR), integration, flight/static test, Test Readiness Review (TRR), and Production Readiness Review (PRR).
  • Partner with Chief Engineer and systems engineering lead to assess technical trade studies, verify requirements traceability, and ensure design maturity gates are met.
  • Oversee airworthiness, flight safety, and range safety processes, and ensure compliance with applicable safety standards.
  • Coordinate developmental and operational test campaigns (DT&E/OT&E), including flight test, captive carry, HIL/SIL integration labs, and environmental/qualification testing.
  • Ensure configuration management (CM) rigor and technical data package integrity across engineering releases.
  • Manage contract performance against FAR/DFARS requirements, CDRLs, and contract line items (CLINs); support contract modifications and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs).
  • Ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR export control regulations, DoW security requirements (NISPOM), and applicable airspace/range approvals (e.g., FAA COA, military range safety).
  • Manage supply chain and subcontractor performance for long-lead and critical components (seekers, guidance electronics, propulsion, warheads, airframes, avionics).
  • Report program status, financial performance, and risk posture to executive leadership and customer stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Minimum 15 years of program/project management experience within the defense industry, with direct experience managing a complex development program
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field
  • Strong working knowledge of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development, and risk management processes.
  • Experience managing programs under FAR/DFARS contract types (CPFF, CPIF, FFP) and supporting government customer program offices.
  • Excellent leadership, negotiation, and executive-level communication skills; demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional IPTs and lead through influence.
  • Willingness to travel (typically 20–30%) to customer sites, test ranges, and manufacturing/integration facilities.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
  • PMP certification preferred
  • Experience supporting Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or international program execution.
  • Experience with digital engineering environments and model-based acquisition approaches.
  • Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Deputy Program Manager, or Integration Lead prior to moving into Program Manager roles.
  • Ability to obtain/maintain Secret/Top Secret/SCI clearance

Why CHAOS?

  • Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
  • Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
  • Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
  • Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
  • Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices
Salary Range: $230,000 - $300,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. 

 

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

 

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Please note this position does not necessarily require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. 

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EXPORT CONTROLS - This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls.

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