The Role
Supports defense technology programs by coordinating schedules, milestones, deliverables, risks, staffing, budgets, forecasts, customer communications, and cross-functional execution. The role assists with financial management, EAC development, resource planning, program reporting, PMO processes, and stakeholder coordination while developing toward independent program management responsibilities.
Summary Generated by Built In
About The Role:
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking an Associate Program Manager to be part of our Advanced Capabilities team and based out of our Arlington, VA location.
The Associate Program Manager works closely with Program Managers, Project Technical Leads, engineering teams, functional organizations, and business leadership to ensure programs are effectively planned, staffed, executed, and communicated.
This position is designed for an individual who demonstrates strong organizational ability, business judgment, initiative, and leadership potential and is interested in developing into an independent Program Manager. The APM will initially support established programs and workstreams while progressively assuming responsibility for program execution, customer coordination, financial performance, staffing, and delivery.
Clearance & Location Requirements:
- All applicants must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
- This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 3 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA location.
Key Responsibilities
What You Will Do:
Program & Project Execution
- Support Program Managers and Project Technical Leads in the planning and execution of assigned programs, projects, and technical workstreams.
- Coordinate program activities across engineering, operations, contracts, finance, procurement, security, and other functional organizations.
- Support the development, maintain, and track program schedules, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and action items.
- Monitor program execution against contractual requirements, technical milestones, cost objectives, and delivery schedules.
- Identify schedule, staffing, financial, and execution risks and elevate concerns before they impact program performance.
- Facilitate program meetings, technical coordination meetings, reviews, and internal planning sessions.
- Track decisions and action items and ensure responsible parties maintain appropriate follow-through.
- Support preparation and execution of customer reviews, demonstrations, technical interchange meetings, and program status reviews.
- Maintain program documentation and ensure program information is accurate, current, and accessible to appropriate stakeholders.
Financial & Business Management
- Support program financial planning, forecasting, and performance monitoring.
- Assist with development and maintenance of Estimates at Completion (EACs) and program forecasts.
- Review planned versus actual labor, material, subcontractor, travel, and other program costs.
- Monitor funding, burn rates, remaining budget, and projected program expenditures.
- Assist Program Managers in identifying financial variances, risks, and required corrective actions..
- Support development of program metrics, dashboards, status reports, and leadership-level reporting.
- Develop an understanding of contract structure, funding, CLINs, periods of performance, deliverables, and other contractual requirements affecting program execution.
Staffing & Resource Planning
- Support short- and long-range staffing forecasts for assigned programs.
- Coordinate with engineering leadership and functional managers to identify personnel requirements and resource constraints.
- Monitor resource utilization and availability across programs in a matrixed organization.
- Assist with identifying staffing gaps, competing resource demands, and future hiring requirements.
- Support workforce planning activities associated with program growth, new awards, attrition, and changing technical requirements.
- Ensure staffing plans remain aligned with program schedules, budgets, and technical priorities.
Customer & Stakeholder Coordination
- Develop effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, subcontractors, and external partners.
- Support Program Managers in communicating program status, risks, decisions, and requirements to customers and leadership.
- Coordinate meetings, deliverables, demonstrations, and other customer-facing activities.
- Assist in preparing presentations, briefings, reports, and other program communications.
- Represent the program professionally and effectively in both internal and external forums.
- Develop the ability to independently manage customer and stakeholder interactions as experience and program knowledge increase.
Risk & Issue Management
- Identify and track programmatic, technical, financial, staffing, and schedule risks.
- Work with technical and program leadership to develop mitigation and recovery plans.
- Maintain risk, issue, and action-item tracking as appropriate.
- Recognize emerging problems and proactively coordinate resolution rather than waiting for issues to impact program performance.
- Escalate significant risks and decisions to Program Managers and leadership with clear supporting information and recommended actions.
Process Improvement & Program Operations
- Identify opportunities to improve program planning, reporting, communication, and execution processes.
- Develop and maintain standardized tools, templates, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms.
- Support implementation of Program Management Office (PMO) processes and best practices.
- Assist with lessons learned and continuous improvement activities.
- Help establish repeatable program-management practices that improve visibility, accountability, and execution across multiple programs.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Who You Are (Required):
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (or equivalent full-time professional experience)
- Minimum 1 years’ experience in the management and development of complex software systems for the DoD.
- Ability to travel approximately 10%
- Demonstrated experience supporting projects, programs, operations, engineering organizations, government contracting, or similar complex environments.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to synthesize detailed information into clear program-level status, risks, and recommendations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow activities through to completion.
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in an environment with changing priorities and competing demands.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Navy, or other federal government programs.
- Experience working in a government-contracting environment.
- Experience with program financial management, budgeting, procurement, forecasting, or EAC development.
- Familiarity with Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), risk management, and program-performance metrics.
- Experience with Deltek Costpoint or similar ERP/project accounting systems.
- Experience using Microsoft Project, JIRA or other scheduling/project-management tools.
- Exposure to software development, systems engineering, integration, cybersecurity, hardware development, or other technical environments.
- CAPM, PMP, or related project/program-management certification or demonstrated interest in obtaining certification.
If you see yourself reflected in this role and are excited about the impact you could make, we encourage you to apply! If you know someone who may be a great fit, please feel free to share this opportunity with your network.
Pay Range*: $74,000 - $116,000 or $90,000 - $150,000
This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.
Job Benefits
Why Work at Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT):
IDT is a growing company with a vibrant, entrepreneurial culture. We are headquartered in Arlington, VA with additional offices in Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA. At each location, our employees work together in a modern, snack-filled, and social office space, designing innovative solutions for our defense industry customers. We offer employees competitive pay and benefits including:
- Generous benefits package
- Competitive PTO
- Paid holidays
- 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching
- 9/80 optional schedule (2nd and 4th Friday off every month)
- Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program
- Professional Development Resources
- Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
- Organization-Wide Monthly Tech Connect Events
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards
- Regular Social Events and Catered Lunches
EEO Statement:
IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.
About
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is a leading defense technology company focused on rapidly delivering mission-critical software and systems solutions to the U.S. government. The company specializes in automation, digital engineering, and enabling the rapid integration of advanced capabilities into complex weapon and combat systems. These essential solutions empower the warfighter to field, operate, and sustain decisive capability at speed and scale. At IDT, our employees are developing advanced mission-critical outcomes by consistently delivering high-quality results, fostering innovation, applying rigorous problem-solving, and effectively collaborating across multifaceted teams and stakeholders. Grounded in these competencies, IDT translates complex customer priorities into robust software solutions.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent full-time professional experience
- At least 1 year of experience managing and developing complex software systems for the Department of Defense
- Ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret U.S. security clearance
- Ability to travel approximately 10%
- Experience supporting projects, programs, operations, engineering organizations, government contracting, or similar complex environments
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to synthesize detailed information into clear program-level status, risks, and recommendations
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and complete activities
- Ability to operate effectively amid changing priorities and competing demands
- Experience supporting Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, or other federal government programs
- Experience in a government-contracting environment
- Experience with program financial management, budgeting, procurement, forecasting, or EAC development
- Familiarity with Integrated Master Schedules, Work Breakdown Structures, risk management, and program-performance metrics
- Experience with Deltek Costpoint or similar ERP/project accounting systems
- Experience using Microsoft Project, JIRA, or other scheduling/project-management tools
- Exposure to software development, systems engineering, integration, cybersecurity, hardware development, or other technical environments
- CAPM, PMP, or related project/program-management certification, or demonstrated interest in obtaining certification
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The Company
What We Do
WHO WE ARE Innovative Defense Technologies -IDT- provides automated software testing, data analysis, and cybersecurity solutions for the DOD's mission-critical systems. Using patented Automated Test and ReTest (ATRT) technology, we support the entire software testing lifecycle from component testing, to system integration and testing, to the analysis of results. Our automated test and analysis solutions enable the rapid update and delivery of large, complex systems. Our technologies offer: -Rapid system configuration assessment and validation -Repeatable, consistent testing, analysis and reporting -On-demand regression tests in response to cyber threats -Statistical rigor in test and analysis -Reduced time and manpower At IDT, we work closely with our customers to tailor our products to support their systems and meet their goals. IDT has the expertise, strategies and processes in place to provide an automated solution for your next project. Let us help you dramatically accelerate test execution time, expand test coverage and improve software quality. OUR MISSION Our mission is to enable new software capabilities to be fielded faster and more affordably by reducing the amount of time and the cost spent on software testing. Through the use of our software testing technology, IDT is changing the way testing is being done for large, complex, software systems.
