Status: listed on the employer's own careers page when we last checked (daily). Confirm on their site before applying.
About the role
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED Education Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aviation, computer science, cybersecurity, systems engineering, business, program management, or a related discipline required; master’s degree preferred.
Accountability, Program Leadership, Strategic Planning
Certifications:
None
Experience:
10 + years of related experience
US Citizenship Required:
Yes
Job Description
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. Success requires experience leading complex UAS and CUAS programs, advancing organizational capabilities, integrating emerging technologies, and driving operational adoption across large federal environments.
HOW A PROGRAM MANAGER - UAS / CUAS WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
Strategic Leadership & Branch Program Governance
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.
Show the full description
Lead an integrated program management structure that aligns technical, operational, acquisition, logistics, security, training, and financial activities.
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.
Manage subcontractor and OEM relationships, including performance, integration dependencies, licensing, sustainment, and supply-chain considerations.
Operations, Readiness, Training & Sustainment
Develop scalable operational models supporting fixed-site, mobile, expeditionary, and event-driven mission requirements, as authorized by the Government.
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.
Security, Safety, Policy & Risk Management
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.
Financial, Acquisition & Workforce Management
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.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED
Education
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aviation, computer science, cybersecurity, systems engineering, business, program management, or a related discipline required; master’s degree preferred.
Experience
12+ years of progressively responsible program leadership experience supporting complex federal technology, security, aviation, defense, or mission operations programs.
UAS / CUAS Leadership
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.
Federal Agency Experience
Demonstrated success advising and supporting a large federal department or agency as it matured UAS / CUAS capabilities, governance, workforce, policy, technology, and operational processes.
Program Scale
Experience leading multidisciplinary, multi-contractor teams; geographically dispersed operations; complex stakeholder environments; and concurrent technical and operational workstreams.
Technical Experience
Working knowledge of UAS / CUAS architectures, sensors, command-and-control, integration, communications, data, testing, deployment, training, logistics, and lifecycle sustainment. Direct experience with solutions from the named providers or comparable industry platforms is strongly preferred.
Acquisition & Compliance
Experience supporting federal acquisition and vendor management and operating within applicable safety, aviation, spectrum, cybersecurity, privacy, supply-chain, and legal/policy constraints.
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) required or must be obtained within an employer-defined period. Relevant UAS, aviation, systems engineering, cybersecurity, or acquisition credentials are preferred.
Executive Communication
Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical, operational, policy, and risk matters to senior Government executives, operational users, contracting officials, and industry partners.
Security Clearance
Current, in-scope investigation allowing ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Location & Travel
National Capital Region hybrid presence with regular on-site customer engagement. CONUS and OCONUS travel is expected, including travel to operational sites, demonstrations, exercises, and industry locations.
PREFERRED DIFFERENTIATORS
Experience developing enterprise UAS / CUAS strategies and roadmaps across both domestic and international operating environments.
Experience with open architecture, multi-vendor integration, technology insertion, test and evaluation, and transition from pilot to sustained operations.
Experience building Government workforce proficiency and transferring program knowledge, data, processes, and technical baselines to federal personnel.
Experience managing sensitive operational technologies and coordinating among legal, policy, intelligence, law-enforcement, aviation, cybersecurity, acquisition, and customer stakeholders.
The likely salary range for this position is $162,037 - $219,227. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Travel Required
None
Telecommuting Options
Onsite
Work Location
USA VA Sterling
Additional Work Locations
USA VA Rosslyn
Total Rewards at GDIT
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.
Our Identity Verification Process
As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.
About Our Work
We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.
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Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans
