As Velo3D continues to expand its footprint across Defense and Aerospace, the Defense Program Manager will play a critical role in bridging Business Development wins with successful program execution. This role ensures that awarded defense programs transition seamlessly from capture to production, delivering value to customers while aligning internal teams around performance, quality, and readiness.

The Defense Program Manager will oversee key customer programs from prototype and qualification through scaled production working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners. Initially an individual contributor role, this position has the potential to grow into a leadership position as the defense business scales.

Responsibilities

Customer-Facing & Program Leadership
Serve as the primary point of contact for critical defense programs (e.g., Eglin AFB, DEVCOM, NAVAIR, or prime contractor initiatives), ensuring post-award alignment between customer requirements and Velo3D execution.
Own all aspects of program execution post-PO, including:
Schedule and deliverable management
Change order coordination and documentation
Customer and internal reporting cadence
Proactively manage stakeholder communications to ensure expectations, milestones, and risks are clearly understood and mitigated.
Sales-to-Production Transition
• Lead the handoff process from Business Development to Operations by translating Statements of Work (SOWs), technical data packages, and contractual requirements into executable manufacturing plans.
• Ensure technical, contractual, and commercial elements are documented and traceable across all program phases—from qualification to repeat production.
• Coordinate cross-functionally to ensure readiness for program start, including facility, material, and resource alignment.
Operational Excellence & Process Control
Maintain and continuously improve:
Program quoting tools and templates
Vendor and subcontractor quote repository
Technical data management systems for defense compliance and ITAR-controlled information
Own the creation and maintenance of the RPS Master Schedule for defense programs, ensuring visibility and accountability across teams.
Support compliance and readiness reviews tied to AS9100, ITAR, DFARS, and defense customer audits.
Internal Operations & Continuous Improvement
Act as a RPS LEAN leader within the Defense organization, driving process improvements that enhance delivery performance, reduce waste, and strengthen scalability.
Serve as the operational liaison between:
Applications Engineering
Operations & Manufacturing
Supply Chain & Vendors
Quality Assurance
Fulfillment & Logistics
Finance & Contracts
Prioritize work-in-progress (WIP) and production scheduling to meet customer delivery timelines and align with internal capacity.

Travel

Expect 25–50% travel to Velo3D headquarters, partner sites, and customer locations to ensure program alignment, readiness, and execution success

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