The posting
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.
QDSS 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.
This 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.
The 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.
Responsibilities
Program & Project Execution
- Serve as the primary customer interface and ensure successful execution of program commitments.
- Lead project planning and execution activities, including scope, schedule, budget, risk management, resource planning, and customer reporting.
- Manage the procurement, installation, integration, verification, and customer acceptance of test hardware, equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
- Coordinate engineering teams, suppliers, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
- Drive issue resolution, change management, and continuous improvement activities throughout program execution.
- Ensure compliance with customer, contractual, quality, and organizational requirements.
- Track and communicate program performance, milestones, risks, and key metrics to customers and internal leadership.
- Support proposal development, project estimates, and planning activities for new and follow-on work.
Team Leadership & Operational Management
- Serve as the hiring manager for assigned personnel, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, performance management, career development, and retention activities.
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing engineering and technical teams to support current and future customer needs.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, performance feedback, and development planning for team members.
- Drive employee engagement, utilization, retention, delivery performance, and other key operational metrics.
- Partner with recruiting and functional leadership to identify talent needs and execute workforce growth plans.
- Collaborate with business leaders and resource managers to ensure effective staffing, succession planning, and workload balancing across programs.
- Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Customer Growth & Business Development
- Develop and maintain strong customer relationships built on trust, responsiveness, and delivery excellence.
- Identify opportunities for follow-on work, program expansion, and new business growth within existing customer organizations.
- Support capture activities, proposal development, staffing plans, project estimates, and customer presentations.
- Partner with business development and account leadership teams to grow strategic customer accounts.
- Help establish QDSS as a trusted engineering partner through technical leadership, successful program delivery, and customer engagement.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technical Management, Business, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience leading aerospace, defense, test, integration, or engineering programs.
- Demonstrated success managing customer-facing engineering projects and multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Experience managing project scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risk.
- Experience leading hardware deployment, integration, test, verification, or system implementation efforts.
- Experience serving as a hiring manager or leading performance management and career development activities for engineering or technical personnel.
- Demonstrated success recruiting, building, and retaining high-performing technical teams.
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience working directly with aerospace and defense customers.
- Ability to lead multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances.
Preferred Qualifications
- PMP certification.
- Missile test engineering, test and evaluation, or weapons systems experience.
- Experience with missile, hypersonic, air vehicle, or other defense system test environments.
- Experience supporting test infrastructure, ground test systems, hardware-in-the-loop laboratories, environmental test laboratories, or systems integration programs.
- Experience managing engineering services contracts, task orders, or technical work packages.
- Experience supporting capture activities, proposal development, and strategic account growth.
- Active DoD Security Clearance.
- Experience leading geographically dispersed or customer-site-based engineering teams.
Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Microsoft Project or similar scheduling tools
- Jira or similar issue-tracking tools
- Requirements and configuration management tools
- ERP/financial tracking systems
- Engineering and test program reporting tools
Key Success Factors
Successful 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.
The QDSS Advantage:
At 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.
What You’ll Find Here
- Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.
- Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.
- A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.
Benefits Include
- Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.
Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications
Pay Ranges
$125,000—$140,000 USD
At 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.
Quest 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.
This 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.
