Program Manager/IT Lead – TS/SCI, SAP/SAR eligible

Kaimetrix is seeking a Program Manager (PM)/IT Lead to support the 18th Space Defense Squadron’s (18 SDS) mission-critical operations.  The Program Manager (PM) serves as the key on-site contract leader, accountable for the delivery, coordination, and performance of all contractor operations in support of the 24x7 Tier 1 Help Desk, infrastructure support, and system monitoring for the 18th Space Defense Squadron (SDS). The PM ensures compliance with contract requirements, staffing targets, reporting, and quality control while serving as the primary interface to the Government.

Location: Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), CA
Clearance: TS/SCI (eligible for SAP/SAR)
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: 8+ years
Certifications: IAT-II +CE (e.g. CompTIA Security+) with one additional CCSP, CCENT, MCP, ITIL, Agile/Scrum or equiv.
Responsibilities:

• Contract Execution & Team Leadership

  • Lead and manage all aspects of contractor performance, staffing, scheduling, and escalation across base and option years

  • Ensure that all services meet or exceed requirements as defined in the Statement of Work, CDRLs, and Government-issued SOPs

  • Maintain minimum 92% staffing level and ensure all personnel are properly cleared, qualified, and trained

• Deliverables & Reporting

  • Oversee development and submission of all Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables including:

    • Monthly and Quarterly Reports 

    • Security and Access Reports 

    • Staffing and Performance Metrics

  • Track and analyze incident response timelines, SLA compliance, and operational efficiency

• Government Interface

  • Serve as the primary point of contact with the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and 18 SDS leadership

  • Lead kick-off meetings, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and other formal engagements

  • Coordinate task prioritization, future studies, system integration plans, and transition actions

• Personnel Management

  • Supervise a team of ~7-10 FTEs, including:

    • Tier 1 Support Technicians (24/7 staff)

    • Infrastructure/System Administrators

    • SMEs and Security personnel

  • Approve leave, schedule rotations, and manage personnel performance and corrective actions

• Security & Compliance

  • Coordinate access provisioning, badge renewals, system authorizations, and annual training

  • Ensure compliance with DD254, OPSEC, and local SCIF policies

  • Facilitate visit requests, CAC processing, and privileged access account management

• Required Qualifications:

  • Active TS/SCI security clearance with SAP/SAR eligibility

  • Bachelor’s degree in IT, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related field

  • Minimum 8–10+ years of program or project management experience (DoD or IC contracts preferred)

  • 5+ years managing operational/technical teams supporting 24/7 mission environments

  • Strong understanding of DoD 8140/8570 requirements

  • Experience with system monitoring, help desk environments, or C2 platforms

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • PMP Certification or equivalent project management credential

  • Experience with:

    • Space C2 environments, ATLAS, KM

    • Jira, Confluence, Google IL4 Suite

    • Agile or DevSecOps implementation

  • Prior experience leading efforts at Vandenberg SFB or with SSC/BCC

• Other Requirements:

  • Must commit to full-time presence for the first 12 months, per SOW Section 3.2

  • Must be available for after-hours escalation, contract surge planning, and classified briefings

The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $145,000 annually. The actual offer will depend on experience and qualifications.
For California-based roles, we are only considering candidates for W-2 employee status.
Kaimetrix, L.L.C. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.