Technical Program Manager

Join Our Team as a Technical Program Manager – Aerospace & Defense Programs!

Are you an experienced aerospace and defense program leader who thrives on managing complex technical programs and driving successful execution? We are seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead programs from contract award through delivery, bringing together engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, contracts, scheduling, and risk management.

About the Company:

Thomas Global Systems is a leader in the design, manufacture and support of high-integrity aviation and defense electronics, operating out of locations in Sydney, Australia and Irvine, California. 

About the Role:

The Technical Program Manager is responsible for the overall planning and execution of complex aerospace and defense programs, ensuring technical, cost, schedule, and contractual objectives are achieved. Working across multidisciplinary teams and directly with customers, this role provides program leadership, evaluates performance and risk, and drives informed decisions to keep programs on track.

Location: Irvine, CA, fully onsite. 

What's on Offer: 

• A varied, fast paced role with an innovative and respected leader in mission-critical aerospace and defense products.


• Competitive remuneration and comprehensive benefit package.


• Join a team of skilled and motivated people committed to innovation, collaboration, and national security outcomes.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead overall program execution, including scope, schedule, cost, technical performance, risk, and customer commitments. 

• Provide direction for development and maintenance of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and ensure it accurately reflects the program execution strategy, key dependencies, milestones, and contractual commitments. 

• Review schedule health, critical and driving paths, schedule margin, and emerging schedule risks, and lead development of corrective or recovery actions. 

• Oversee Schedule Risk Assessments (SRA) and evaluate confidence-level, sensitivity, and risk-driver results to support program decisions and mitigation planning. 

• Monitor Earned Value Management (EVM) and other program performance indicators, identify significant variances and trends, and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented. 

• Work with the scheduler, risk management, contracts, finance, engineering, and other functional specialists to integrate program information into a coherent execution plan. 

• Maintain overall ownership of the program risk and opportunity posture and ensure significant risks have appropriate mitigation plans and schedule/cost impacts. 

• Ensure program execution complies with applicable contractual requirements, Statements of Work, SDRLs, and customer reporting requirements. 

• Lead customer and management reviews, including PMRs, SMRs, earned value reviews, schedule reviews, and risk reviews. 

• Manage customer expectations, contractual commitments, priorities, and changes in coordination with the Contracts function. 

• Identify resource, supplier, technical, and cross-functional issues that may affect program performance and drive timely resolution. 
  
  
  
  


• Provide clear program status, forecasts, risks, and recommended actions to executive management and customers. 

Required Skills, Experience and Behaviors:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or similar degree.  

• Minimum of 8 years of technical program management experience in aerospace or defense, 10+ years preferred. 

• Proven track record of government program management.  

• Experience in earned value management and cost-plus type programs.  

• Strong understanding of engineering practices and the ability to discuss and convey technical problems and solutions between the technical teams and upper management/customers 

• Strong understanding of Integrated Master Scheduling, Critical Path Method (CPM), EVM/EVMS, schedule risk analysis, and program risk management. 

• Working knowledge of EIA-748, DCMA schedule assessment practices, and NDIA PASEG preferred. 

• Ability to interpret schedule, cost, risk, and contractual information and translate it into effective program decisions. 

• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and coordinating across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, contracts, and customers. 

• Strong analytical, communication, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. 

• Experience with Microsoft Project and familiarity with schedule-risk or program-control tools.  

• U.S. person status required due to applicable export control requirements.
  

Apply now and take your career to new heights!

Base salary range of $145,000 - $165,000 DOE per annum. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to location, skill set; relevant experience; and other business and organizational needs.

At-Will Employment Statement
Thomas Global Systems is an at-will employer. Employment with the company is voluntary and may be terminated by the employee or the company at any time, with or without cause or notice, and for any reason or no reason at all.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Thomas Global Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation Statement
If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us at [email protected].