Program Manager

Long BeachOn-siteFull-time

AI Summary

Supports execution and customer engagement for missile defense programs serving the U.S. Department of War, tracking schedules, budgets, CDRL deliverables and risks while coordinating with engineering, contracts and government program offices.

About this role

Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. We specialize in ballistic missile defense and are developing Cyclops, a low-cost, mass-producible interceptor. We also produce containerized launchers and offer low-cost targets for threat replication. The future of global security depends on defensive technology that redefines cost, magazine depth, and distribution to deter and defend against evolving threats. Join us.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Mission-Driven Problem Solvers – The problems in missile defense demand ingenuity. We want engineers, technicians, and corporate professionals who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.

Total Ownership – We seek those who take full responsibility for delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, technicians, and corporate professionals make their teammates better, knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.

PROGRAM MANAGER

DESCRIPTION

Long Wall is seeking a motivated and technically capable Program Manager to support the execution and growth of programs serving the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and other customers. As a key interface between Long Wall and our customers, you will support program execution, customer engagement, and technical coordination, helping keep programs on schedule, on budget, and aligned with contractual requirements.

You will work closely with Program Management leadership, engineering, contracts, and finance teams, government program offices, and industry partners, turning plans into schedules, tracking commitments through to closure, and ensuring customers receive clear, accurate information about program status. This is a hands-on role in a fast-moving environment and a direct path to building program management expertise. You will gain real experience with defense acquisition, from traditional contracting to newer, faster pathways such as Other Transaction (OT) agreements and rapid prototyping, along with government contracting and customer relationship management.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Represent Long Wall in meetings, technical discussions, program reviews, and coordination activities with U.S. Government customers, and serve as the point of contact for designated program activities

Build and maintain professional working relationships with government program managers, contracting personnel, technical representatives, and industry partners

Prepare and deliver program briefings, status reports, presentations, and other customer-facing materials, and drive customer action items to closure

Support the planning, coordination, and execution of programs from contract award through delivery and closeout, working across engineering, contracts, business functions, subcontractors, and vendors

Develop and maintain program schedules, milestones, and performance tracking tools, and track contractual deliverables, including Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) items, to on-time completion

Track program budgets, expenditures, and financial performance against plan in coordination with Contracts and Finance

Monitor program performance, identify risks, scope changes, and schedule impacts, and recommend corrective actions to Long Wall leadership

Support program reviews, technical interchange meetings, milestone reviews, and customer reporting requirements

Partner with engineering to understand program technical objectives, support requirements and verification activities, and communicate technical progress, challenges, and proposed solutions to customers

Build working knowledge of DoW acquisition processes and FAR/DFARS requirements, and ensure program activities comply with contractual obligations, Long Wall policies, and security and export control requirements

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Science, Systems Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related discipline

3 to 5 years of professional experience in program management or a similar field

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Genuine interest in building a career in program management, with the drive to learn quickly and take on increasing responsibility

Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with close attention to schedules, budgets, contractual commitments, and deliverables

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver professional presentations

Confidence and professionalism when interacting with government officials, military personnel, senior leadership, and technical stakeholders

Ability to understand government customer priorities, represent Long Wall effectively, and build trusted, productive relationships with customers and partners

Technical aptitude to understand complex technical programs and communicate effectively with engineering teams

Ability to manage multiple priorities, track commitments, and meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-moving environment

Ownership and follow-through on assigned responsibilities, with sound judgment about which issues need management attention and how to operate within delegated authority

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and Microsoft Project or a comparable scheduling tool

U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

5+ years of experience in program or project management, project coordination, systems engineering, or business operations, ideally in aerospace and defense (internships, co-ops, and military service count)

Experience working with government program offices, military customers, or prime contractors

Exposure to DoW acquisition pathways, such as programs of record, Other Transaction (OT) agreements, SBIR/STTR, or rapid prototyping efforts

Familiarity with the FAR and DFARS, common contract types (e.g., firm-fixed-price, cost-plus), and contract deliverables such as CDRLs

Experience building or maintaining integrated master schedules (IMS), or familiarity with earned value management (EVM) concepts

Active U.S. Government security clearance (Secret or above)

CAPM or PMP certification, or progress toward one

Experience in a startup or fast-growing aerospace, defense, or hardware environment

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time

Ability to use a computer to complete assignments

Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence

Ability to pick up to 12lbs

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment

Ability to travel periodically to customer sites, government facilities, partner locations, and between Long Wall sites as required

Skills

CDRLCost-plus ContractsDFARSEarned Value ManagementExcelFARFirm-fixed-price ContractsIntegrated Master ScheduleMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordOther Transaction AgreementsPowerPointRapid PrototypingSBIR/STTRSecurity Clearance