Director, Program Manager (Europe)

About Ocean Aero:

Ocean Aero is an award-winning US company that has created the world’s first and only environmentally powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). Ocean Aero’s autonomous marine robot, the Triton, operates exclusively on wind and solar energy and performs long endurance missions on the ocean surface with the ability to dive below the waves for underwater operations. The Triton uses a complex array of custom-built sensors, marinized electronics and software systems to operate, sense and communicate in the environment.

Ocean Aero has a collaborative culture with plenty of opportunities for growth and ownership, and comprehensive benefits.

Role Description:

The Director, Program Management will be responsible for the overall coordination and execution of multiple Ocean Aero customer programs. This role will lead program performance, customer engagement, cost, revenue, cash flow, schedule, risk management, proposal development, and cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, manufacturing, and field support teams.

The Director will translate customer requirements and strategic objectives into executable program plans, product roadmaps, and measurable outcomes. The role requires strong program leadership, systems integration experience, and the ability to manage complex hardware and software programs from development and testing through delivery, deployment, and customer transition. Experience supporting the Romanian Naval Forces, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, or other government customers is valuable, but the primary emphasis is disciplined program management and successful delivery of autonomous maritime capabilities.

This position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Aero, Inc., and plays a critical role in aligning customer needs, technical priorities, and business objectives.

Role Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead the day-to-day execution of multiple customer programs to achieve cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer objectives
• Serve as the primary program interface with customers, partners, executive leadership, and internal stakeholders
• Review contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), and customer requirements to develop integrated program plans, work breakdown structures, schedules, budgets, and performance objectives
• Identify, assess, communicate, and proactively mitigate program risks, ensuring timely resolution of technical, schedule, operational, and contractual issues
• Manage scope changes and clearly communicate impacts to cost, schedule, technical execution, and program outcomes
• Monitor program financial performance, including revenue, cash flow, forecasts, budgets, and resource requirements
• Provide executive-level program reporting, status updates, decision support, and recommendations to company leadership and customers

Cross-Functional & Customer Leadership

• Lead cross-functional teams spanning engineering, manufacturing, operations, sales, and field support to ensure successful development, delivery, and deployment of autonomous maritime systems
• Drive alignment between technical development priorities, customer requirements, program commitments, and company business objectives
• Build and maintain effective relationships with government customers, contractors, operational users, partners, and executive stakeholders
• Translate customer and operator feedback into product improvements, future capability roadmaps, and executable program objectives
• Lead planning and execution of customer demonstrations, testing, operational evaluations, and transition activities as required

Business Development & Growth

• Participate in bid and proposal activities, ensuring customer needs are understood and technical, schedule, and costing inputs are prepared in a timely manner
• Support capture and business development activities by identifying follow-on opportunities, new customer requirements, and potential program growth
• Partner with company leadership to develop program strategies that support customer success and long-term business objectives

Role Requirements:

• B.S. or B.A. in Engineering, Business, Program Management, or a related technical field from an accredited university
• 7+ years of progressive program management experience, including leadership of complex programs involving hardware, software, systems integration, testing, and fielding
• Demonstrated success managing programs to cost, schedule, technical performance, and customer objectives
• Experience as a technology developer, systems integrator, or program leader delivering products or capabilities to government or other complex customers
• Strong experience leading cross-functional teams and making technical, schedule, cost, and business trade-off decisions
• Experience with program planning, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, requirements management, and change control
• Experience collaborating with government customers, contractors, operational users, and executive leadership
• Ability to translate strategic objectives and customer requirements into measurable program outcomes, integrated plans, and product roadmaps
• Broad technical understanding of software, mechanical, electronics, and integrated systems
• Excellent leadership, analytical problem-solving, decision-making, verbal communication, and written communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Project and Microsoft Office tools
• Ability to build effective working relationships across engineering, operations, manufacturing, government, and executive stakeholders
• Romanian Citizenship required
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Romanian Ministry of Defense Secret / NATO Secret Clearance
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• Maintain valid driver license and personal vehicle insurance
• Ability to pass all requirements to work on the Constanta Port
• Successfully pass drug screening, background investigation, and motor vehicle screening requirements

Role Preferences:

• Experience managing Romanian Naval Forces, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, NATO, or other government technology programs
• Experience with autonomous or unmanned systems, maritime systems, robotics, sensing platforms, or other complex integrated technologies
• Experience supporting technology development, testing, operational demonstrations, customer transition, or field adoption
• Familiarity with government acquisition, contracting, and program management processes
• M.S. degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Business, Program Management, or related field
• PMP, DAWIA Program Management, or equivalent program management certification
• Understanding of software-intensive systems development, systems engineering, and autonomous platform integration