Deputy Program Manager

Company: Saronic
Location: Austin
Posted on: February 20, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. About the role: Saronic Technologies is seeking a Deputy Program Manager (DPM) to support the execution of commercial and national security programs. Under a Program Manager, the DPM will provide critical technical support and program success through synthesizing technical and qualitative customer objectives into strategic roadmaps. This is a hands-on, leadership-level role ideal for a candidate with a systems mindset, strong attention to detail, and a desire to grow into a senior program leadership role. A general understanding of engineering facets, such as schematics, software development, Computer-Aided Design, wiring diagrams, and system-level architecture, is beneficial for effectively bridging the technical, operational, and administrative teams. This role may support one or more active programs. Saronic operates on the cutting edge of maritime autonomy and seeks a mission-driven professional who thrives in fast-paced, technically complex environments. About our team: Programs at Saronic are divided into five directorates: Small Autonomous Surface Vessels, Shipbuilding, Research & Development, Undersea, and Autonomy. Our team is based in Washington, D.C. but we work dynamically through offices in San Diego, New Orleans, and Saronic’s HQ in Austin, TX. Our team serves as the bridge from commercial product & business opportunity to technical execution & production. Programs partners closely with Growth, Engineering, Production, Software, and Product to define program scope, align resources, manage cost, schedule, and risk, and drive execution from to exceed customer expectations. We operate in a fast-paced environment that requires strong ownership, disciplined execution, and operating in open-ended environments. Key Responsibilities Program Execution & Coordination: Support the Program Manager in the development, tracking, and maintenance of program schedules, requirements, budgets, and deliverables. Lead recurring coordination meetings across engineering, product, manufacturing, and operations to ensure execution aligns with program delivery schedule. Coordinate closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Test teams to ensure execution alignment and technical accuracy. Track and manage integration milestones for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE). Maintain awareness of technical performance metrics and ensure configuration and documentation discipline across program phases. Lead internal coordination of design, build, test, and readiness activities across shipyard and supplier partners. Cross-Functional Team Coordination: Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for Saronic’s production and engineering teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment with programmatic and technical objectives. Candidates should be comfortable participating in technical discussions with engineering teams and interpreting engineering documentation such as BOMs, CAD mockups, or wire diagrams to support engineering, operations, quality, software, mission operations, and other teams to solve problems, align on strategy, resolve discrepancies, and ensure program alignment. Translate customer requirements and priorities into actionable tasks across functional teams. Track internal deliverables, testing progress, and integration timelines to support seamless handoffs, milestone execution, and customer satisfaction. Ensure feedback from field operations, testing, and customer reviews is efficiently relayed to internal teams for continuous improvement. Risk & Issue Management: Identify, document, and track program risks and issues; support intentional and urgent mitigation. Ensure risk registers, action logs, and issue tracking tools are actively maintained. Work towards collaborative and cross-functional problem solving against internal and customer-identified risks – both production related and programmatic. Collaborate with Quality and Production leadership to ensure adherence to ABS, DOD, and DCMA compliance standards. Drive adherence to internal processes for configuration management, change control, and documentation traceability. Operational Support: Support field operations, demos, and test event planning and logistics coordination. This includes equipment readiness, prototype integration, high-caliber documentation, and after-action review processes. Assist with rapidly evolving goals and customer needs from meeting planning to technical requirement documentation. Process Improvement : Continuously evaluate and improve program management practices, training processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Compliance : Ensure the contract deliverables comply with contractual requirements, industry standards, and organizational policies. Maintain clear documentation on customer required deliverables. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Business Administration, or a related field. Advanced degree or PMP certification is a plus. Experience: 5 years of experience in program management, preferably within a defense, engineering, or technical environment. Familiarity with DoD program requirements or government contracting processes and program management standards/practices. Proven track record of working with cross-functional teams in a technical or hardware production environment. Ability to learn fast and operate in a fast-paced, high-trust environment within a rapidly growing organization. Experience working in or around technical teams such as mechanical, electrical, or software engineering. Ability to interpret data logs and build charts and graphs to display trends and performance. Preferred Qualifications Program Management experience in shipbuilding, naval systems, littoral combat systems, autonomous surface vessels (ASVs), undersea, robotics, or other autonomous hardware production. Prior experience managing or supporting technical programs involving electromechanical systems or integrated hardware/software platforms. Prior experience delivering programs with NAVSEA, PEO Ships, PEO USC, or other major Navy acquisition organizations. Experience executing programs under multiple acquisition pathways, including FAR-based contracts, OTAs, and rapid prototyping authorities. Direct Service Branch experience in program management, acquisitions, or related Executive Branch experience Foreign Languages (Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, or Arabic) Physical Demands Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Occasional standing and walking within the office. Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment. Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports. Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies. Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages). Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

Keywords: Saronic, Bryan , Deputy Program Manager, Engineering , Austin, Texas