{"id":4133083,"url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-project-manager","title":"Project Manager","company":{"id":618,"name":"Quest Defense","domain":"quest-defense.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/quest-defense","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"services","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":84,"open_postings":28,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.607,"repost_share":0.036,"time_to_fill_p50_days":32,"computed_at":"2026-11-12T10:38:37Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["McKinney, United States","Dallas, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":125000,"max":140000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":140000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Jira","optional":true},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":true},{"name":"Microsoft Project","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-11T21:38:18Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-11","last_verified_at":"2026-11-13T10:24:59Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"We’re engineering the future of aerospace and defense. If you thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions where precision and reliability are non-negotiable, we want you on our team. Here, your expertise powers mission-critical systems that safeguard lives, advance technology, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Join us and bring your skills to work where innovation meets impact. \nQDSS is seeking an experienced and customer-focused Program Manager to lead the execution and growth of a strategic aerospace and defense customer engagement in McKinney, TX.\nThis role combines hands-on project leadership with team management and business growth responsibilities. The Program Manager will be responsible for successful delivery of customer programs involving the procurement, installation, integration, verification, and acceptance of test hardware and supporting infrastructure. In addition, this individual will serve as a people leader and hiring manager, responsible for building and developing high-performing engineering teams while supporting customer growth and strategic business objectives.\nThe ideal candidate is a strong leader with aerospace and defense experience who can effectively balance customer expectations, project execution, employee development, and business growth objectives. Missile test engineering, test and evaluation, or weapons systems experience is highly desirable.\nResponsibilities\nProgram & Project Execution\nServe as the primary customer interface and ensure successful execution of program commitments.\nLead project planning and execution activities, including scope, schedule, budget, risk management, resource planning, and customer reporting.\nManage the procurement, installation, integration, verification, and customer acceptance of test hardware, equipment, and supporting infrastructure.\nCoordinate engineering teams, suppliers, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.\nDrive issue resolution, change management, and continuous improvement activities throughout program execution.\nEnsure compliance with customer, contractual, quality, and organizational requirements.\nTrack and communicate program performance, milestones, risks, and key metrics to customers and internal leadership.\nSupport proposal development, project estimates, and planning activities for new and follow-on work.\nTeam Leadership & Operational Management\nServe as the hiring manager for assigned personnel, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, performance management, career development, and retention activities.\nBuild, lead, and develop high-performing engineering and technical teams to support current and future customer needs.\nProvide coaching, mentoring, performance feedback, and development planning for team members.\nDrive employee engagement, utilization, retention, delivery performance, and other key operational metrics.\nPartner with recruiting and functional leadership to identify talent needs and execute workforce growth plans.\nCollaborate with business leaders and resource managers to ensure effective staffing, succession planning, and workload balancing across programs.\nFoster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.\nCustomer Growth & Business Development\nDevelop and maintain strong customer relationships built on trust, responsiveness, and delivery excellence.\nIdentify opportunities for follow-on work, program expansion, and new business growth within existing customer organizations.\nSupport capture activities, proposal development, staffing plans, project estimates, and customer presentations.\nPartner with business development and account leadership teams to grow strategic customer accounts.\nHelp establish QDSS as a trusted engineering partner through technical leadership, successful program delivery, and customer engagement.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Engineering, Technical Management, Business, or a related field.\n7+ years of experience leading aerospace, defense, test, integration, or engineering programs.\nDemonstrated success managing customer-facing engineering projects and multidisciplinary technical teams.\nExperience managing project scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risk.\nExperience leading hardware deployment, integration, test, verification, or system implementation efforts.\nExperience serving as a hiring manager or leading performance management and career development activities for engineering or technical personnel.\nDemonstrated success recruiting, building, and retaining high-performing technical teams.\nStrong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.\nExperience working directly with aerospace and defense customers.\nAbility to lead multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.\nU.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances.\nPreferred Qualifications\nPMP certification.\nMissile test engineering, test and evaluation, or weapons systems experience.\nExperience with missile, hypersonic, air vehicle, or other defense system test environments.\nExperience supporting test infrastructure, ground test systems, hardware-in-the-loop laboratories, environmental test laboratories, or systems integration programs.\nExperience managing engineering services contracts, task orders, or technical work packages.\nExperience supporting capture activities, proposal development, and strategic account growth.\nActive DoD Security Clearance.\nExperience leading geographically dispersed or customer-site-based engineering teams.\nTools & Technologies\nMicrosoft Office Suite\nMicrosoft Project or similar scheduling tools\nJira or similar issue-tracking tools\nRequirements and configuration management tools\nERP/financial tracking systems\nEngineering and test program reporting tools\nKey Success Factors\nSuccessful candidates will demonstrate the ability to simultaneously lead project execution, grow customer relationships, and build a high-performing technical organization. This individual must be equally comfortable engaging with customers, leading technical teams, managing business performance, and driving strategic growth within a dynamic aerospace and defense environment.\nThe QDSS Advantage: \nAt QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. \nWhat You’ll Find Here \nWork That Matters - Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. \nGrowth That’s Supported - Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. \nA Culture That Works - A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. \nBenefits Include \nCompetitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace. \nFull compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications\nPay Ranges\n$125,000—$140,000 USD\nAt Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don’t just build technology - we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart - not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry - we’re revolutionizing it.\nQuest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.\nThis policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8832,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":7,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Embedded & Electronics Design","Avionics & Flight Control","Engineering Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-12T03:15:03Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":32,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-12T10:38:37Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":140000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-project-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-project-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-13T11:18:03Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":22782,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-14T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":618},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=618"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fquest-defense-project-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"free","price":{"credits":0,"usd":0},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fquest-defense-project-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fquest-defense-project-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/quest-defense-project-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fquest-defense-project-manager"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":4133083}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"quest-defense.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":4133083},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. Docs: https://alion.io/developers"}}