Thermal Protection System Program Manager

Location: Huntsville, AL

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

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Leidos’ Defense Systems Strategic Hypersonics Division is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Program Manager to lead critical initiatives within our Thermal Protection System (TPS) Program. This high-impact role offers the opportunity to lead complex, mission-critical initiatives advancing hypersonic technologies through innovative high-temperature materials, composite manufacturing, and testing. The Program Manager will drive program execution across technical, schedule, cost, and contractual objectives while leading multidisciplinary teams and subcontractors across geographically dispersed locations.

Success requires a strategic, results-driven leader who excels in a collaborative, integrated “badge-less” environment and builds strong partnerships with a diverse government customer community, including AvMC, Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape critical defense capabilities while delivering innovative solutions to some of the nation's most challenging technical and operational priorities.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, hypersonic weapon system solutions, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

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Primary Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight of complex, specially funded initiatives within the Thermal Protection System (TPS) Program, ensuring successful execution against technical, schedule, cost, and contractual objectives.

Lead all aspects of program planning, execution, monitoring, and control, including development and management of integrated master schedules, budgets, resource plans, performance metrics, and program deliverables.

Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and technical teams to drive execution of advanced high-temperature materials, composite manufacturing, material characterization, qualification, and testing activities.

Serve as a primary interface with a diverse, multi-agency government customer community, including AvMC, Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army, fostering trusted relationships and alignment on program priorities and objectives.

Lead and influence geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary teams of engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, contracts, and program management professionals within a highly collaborative, integrated "badge-less" team environment.

Provide oversight of subcontractor performance, ensuring alignment with program requirements, technical objectives, delivery commitments, and cost expectations while proactively addressing execution challenges.

Maintain accountability for program financial performance, including budget development, cost forecasting, financial analysis, Estimate at Completion (EAC) management, and identification of opportunities to improve program efficiency and profitability.

Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate technical, schedule, cost, and execution risks while developing actionable recovery strategies and pursuing opportunities to enhance program performance.

Translate complex technical and contractual requirements into executable program strategies, balancing competing priorities, resource constraints, and evolving customer needs.

Ensure program execution aligns with contractual requirements, applicable government regulations, company policies, and established program management processes.

Develop and deliver clear, actionable program performance updates, strategic recommendations, and executive-level briefings to internal leadership and government stakeholders.

Lead the evaluation and implementation of evolving program requirements, scope changes, and customer priorities while maintaining execution discipline and minimizing impacts to cost, schedule, and technical performance.

Champion process improvements, accountability, and data-driven decision-making to strengthen program execution, improve organizational effectiveness, and deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, ownership, and operational excellence while advancing critical hypersonic technologies in support of national defense priorities.

Basic Qualifications

BA or BS degree and 15+ years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 13+ years of prior relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

Engineering, Business Management or Project Management degree

Experience supporting a multi-year development/production program valuing more than $100M.

Flight Programs experience (Missile, Space Launch or Rocket launch systems) Cost estimating and Budget management Experience in Earned Value Management Disciplined metric-driven program management

Proven experience managing and meeting tight schedules Proficient using Microsoft Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint

Strong understanding of hardware development, manufacturing, procurement, production, and integration

Project management qualification (PMP) or equivalent is desirable

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting

October 26, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $139,100.00 - $251,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.