Program Manager - Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS)

GDIT is seeking a Program Manager - Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) to lead the delivery of enterprise-scale capabilities that protect personnel, facilities, and operations.

The Program Manager will integrate strategy, governance, acquisition support, systems engineering, operations, training, sustainment, compliance, and stakeholder engagement into a unified program that supports mission objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute multi-year program strategies, capability roadmaps, implementation plans, and performance metrics aligned to mission priorities.
• Advise Government leadership on investments, resource requirements, risks, and opportunities to expand and optimize UAS/CUAS capabilities.
• Lead an integrated program management structure that aligns technical, operational, acquisition, logistics, security, training, and financial activities.
• Establish effective governance, executive reporting, risk management, integrated scheduling, and performance tracking processes.
• Direct the full lifecycle delivery of UAS and CUAS initiatives, including development requirements, market research, testing, fielding, operations, sustainment, and continuous improvement.
• Advance organizational capability maturity through assessments, gap analysis, workforce planning, process development, and operational integration.
• Develop and maintain concepts of operations, standard operating procedures, deployment plans, readiness criteria, lifecycle management processes, and configuration controls.
• Manage concurrent efforts across multiple stakeholders and locations while maintaining alignment to cost, schedule, performance, security, and mission objectives.
• Lead change management, communications, and knowledge transfer activities that support durable mission outcomes.
• Support evaluation, selection, integration, and sustainment of UAS/CUAS sensors, command-and-control systems, communications, effectors, data services, and supporting infrastructure.
• Apply expertise across leading UAS/CUAS hardware, software, integration, and service providers to inform technology decisions.
• Establish requirements traceability, technical evaluation criteria, interoperability objectives, acceptance standards, and modernization roadmaps.
• Coordinate demonstrations, pilots, operational assessments, testing activities, technical interchange meetings, and after-action reviews.
• Manage subcontractor and OEM relationships, including performance, integration dependencies, licensing, sustainment, and supply-chain considerations.
• Develop scalable operational models supporting fixed-site, mobile, expeditionary, and event-driven mission requirements, as authorized by the Government.
• Establish readiness reporting, maintenance planning, configuration management, asset accountability, technical documentation, and sustainment processes.
• Develop training, qualifications, exercise, and proficiency programs for operators, maintainers, analysts, and program personnel.
• Implement operational reporting, lessons learned, incident response, and continuous improvement processes to enhance mission effectiveness.
• Plan and oversee long-term sustainment and operational support across geographically dispersed locations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal laws, policies, aviation and spectrum requirements, cybersecurity controls, privacy considerations, records management obligations, export controls, and authorities governing CUAS operations.
• Collaborate with legal, policy, security, acquisition, intelligence, aviation, cybersecurity, spectrum, facilities, and operational stakeholders to resolve constraints and support program execution.
• Integrate cybersecurity, supply-chain risk management, physical security, operational security, system assurance, and safety practices throughout the program lifecycle.
• Lead risk management, contingency planning, audit support, corrective actions, and executive-level risk communication.
• Manage program financial performance, staffing, resource allocation, subcontractor oversight, forecasting, and execution against established baselines.
• Support acquisition activities, including market research, technical requirements development, statements of work, evaluation criteria, cost inputs, source selection support, and post-award oversight.
• Recruit, develop, and lead multidisciplinary teams spanning program management, operations, engineering, cybersecurity, logistics, training, integration, and field support.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, compliance, collaboration, innovation, and mission excellence.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aviation, computer science, cybersecurity, systems engineering, business, program management, or a related discipline required; master’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible program leadership experience supporting complex federal technology, security, aviation, defense, or mission operations programs.
• 5+ years leading UAS, CUAS, airspace security, or closely related programs, including demonstrated experience maturing at least one program, office, branch, or enterprise capability from initial concept through sustained operations.
• Demonstrated success advising and supporting a large federal department or agency as it matured UAS / CUAS capabilities, governance, workforce, policy, technology, and operational processes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary, multi-contractor teams; geographically dispersed operations; complex stakeholder environments; and concurrent technical and operational workstreams.
• Working knowledge of UAS / CUAS architectures, sensors, command-and-control, integration, communications, data, testing, deployment, training, logistics, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) required or must be obtained within an employer-defined period.
• Current, in-scope investigation allowing ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Benefits:

• Medical plan options
• Dental plan options
• Vision plan
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off plans
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance