Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager

Location: Location: US – Walnut Creek, San Deigo, Detroit, Boston

Citizenship Clearance Required

ABOUT WIND RIVER

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability.

Wind River helps customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications industries solve complex technology challenges on their journey toward the new intelligent machine economy. The company’s software powers generation after generation of the safest, most secure systems in the world.  Examples include playing a key role in NASA space missions such as Artemis I, the James Webb Space Telescope, and multiple Mars rovers. We’ve achieved recent 5G milestones including the world’s first successful 5G data session with Verizon and  building one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world with Vodafone.

The company has received industry recognition for its technology innovation and leadership, and for its workplace culture, including global Great Place to Work certification and being named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years. If you want to be part of a unique culture where the lived experience is based on our cultural attributes of growth mindset, customer-focus, and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, come join us and help advance the future software defined world.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The company is a recognized leader in the Aerospace and Defense industry, providing state-of-the-art solutions to government agencies and defense contractors.

The Sr. Program Manager, Enterprise Program Management Office (PMO), holds a strategic leadership position within the Operations team, contributing significantly to governance, oversight, and execution support for the company’s critical initiatives. This role involves collaboration with diverse projects and programs across the enterprise, ensuring effective execution aligned with organizational strategies and successful delivery.

This individual will serve as a trusted strategic partner, supporting the executive leadership team in overseeing compliance, execution of programs, product roadmap, and organizational growth. This role will own and evolve governance, portfolio management, and strategic execution practices across complex programs, while providing scalable support to adjacent industries as needed.

The EPMO will also manage special projects and support cross-functional teams such as the Sales and Product Teams internally in addition to leading the coordination with outside functions such as legal, tax, finance and marketing, as required. This position requires a highly motivated leader with strong operational and leadership skills, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

ABOUT YOU

Candidate profile

• Operates with autonomy on strategic programs; sets methods, direction, and performance standards.
• Accountable for results across vertical teams and programs; responds with velocity and clarity.
• Drives clarity and alignment across executive and operational stakeholders.
• Shares knowledge and fosters collaboration across business units to support enterprise success.

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise Program Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continual improvement of EPMO frameworks across complex, multi-industry portfolios (Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, and adjacent sectors).
• Translate business strategy into execution plans, partnering closely with C-suite leaders to monitor progress, mitigate risks, and ensure business alignment.
• Act independently in determining program execution methodologies, with authority over program-level decisions and approaches.

Governance & Strategic Execution

• Establish and lead governance models that promote compliance, transparency, and accountability across all enterprise programs.
• Define and enforce evaluation criteria for program success, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory mandates.
• Drive portfolio-level reporting and KPI development for executive visibility.

Cross-Functional Program Delivery

• Lead and mentor cross-functional teams in the execution of complex programs, including integration of product development, operations, and compliance functions.
• Serve as the vertical lead on special programs requiring interdepartmental coordination (e.g., legal, finance, tax, sales, marketing).

Process Standardization & Change Leadership

• Architect and evolve enterprise PM methodologies (Agile, Hybrid, Waterfall), adapting them to project complexity and business context.
• Lead enterprise adoption of program tools, practices, and training initiatives to enable consistent and scalable execution.
• Champion change management across the organization, ensuring smooth transitions during strategic initiatives.

Product & Roadmap Integration

• Collaborate with Product teams to ensure strategic alignment between roadmap initiatives and program execution.
• Provide input into the prioritization and sequencing of features, ensuring delivery readiness from both a technical and operational standpoint.

Strategic Projects & Business Support

• Manage executive-level special projects from concept to completion, often with ambiguous scope and high visibility.
• Serve as a liaison and strategic partner to functions outside Operations, such as Sales, BD, and Contracts, ensuring alignment across enterprise priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related technical discipline; Master's or PhD strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in program or portfolio management, including significant leadership accountability.
• Deep experience leading transformation and strategic initiatives across Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, or Industrial sectors.
• Recognized subject matter authority with the ability to influence technical and business leaders across the enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability to develop formal networks, represent the company in technical or strategic forums, and lead with credibility across functions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with a track record of driving strategic impact and enterprise outcomes.
• Expert-level proficiency in project management software, governance tools, and reporting platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, or PhD) in relevant discipline.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project/program management certifications.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks impacting Aerospace & Defense programs.
• Background in product management, contracts, proposals, or commercial operations is advantageous.
• Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments and supporting scale-out initiatives across multiple industries.

BENEFITS 

• Named Top Workplace for the 8th year in a row
• Wind River’s commitment to DEIB
• 100% Employee covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance*
• Flexible Time Off policy* + 12 observed Holidays
• 401K with company match
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Wellness Benefits through Unmind

Compensation                

The annual base salary range for this role’s listed grade level is $160,000 to $200,000 plus a bonus for Colorado, New York, and New Jersey residents, and $170,000 to $205,000 plus a bonus for SF Bay Area, Greater Seattle, NYC, and Washington, DC, residents. Salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities of the applicant, and equity with other team members. Employees in this role are also eligible for the following benefits in accordance with the terms of the Company's plans: health, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, flex time off, eligibility to enroll in 401k, and 12 paid holidays.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY 

Wind River is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, HIV status, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status including pregnancy, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.  Wind River will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics. 

To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. 

APPLICANT PRIVACY NOTICE:                

Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. At Wind River, we strictly adhere to all applicable data privacy laws. Please review Wind River's Applicant Privacy Notice, which can be found here.                    

Security Clearance Requirements   

Successful candidates must engage in a security clearance process in regards to their citizenship in order to perform fundamental job duties, as per applicable law. In particular, candidates with certain citizenship may not be able to perform such fundamental job duties. Currently, this includes citizens of the following countries: Belarus; Burma; China; Cuba; Iran; North Korea; Syria; Venezuela; Afghanistan; Cambodia; Central African Republic; Cyprus; Democratic Republic of Congo; Ethiopia; Eritrea; Haiti; Iraq; Lebanon; Libya; Nicaragua; Russia; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Zimbabwe. The security clearance process may take a significant amount of time to complete, and any offer of employment will be contingent on the candidate's legal ability to perform the fundamental job duties. Wind River is committed to meeting its obligations to candidates under applicable human rights law and privacy law in this regard.