Program Manager (Proposal Baselining)

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Program Manager to serve as the PMO representative and subject matter expert in technical proposal development to ensure solid proposal baseline handoffs to the program execution team. Reporting to the VP of Program Management the Program Manager will serve as the PMO authority ensuring all proposals mature into executable, realistic, and margin‑protected program baselines at contract award. Acting as the formal bridge between capture and program execution, this Program Manager drives cross‑functional alignment across Business Development, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to validate scope, cost, schedule, and risk prior to proposal submission. This role protects the enterprise from baseline erosion, unrealistic commitments, and early re‑planning by ensuring proposals ae aligned to customer requirements with execution realism.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate PMO proposal execution activities in alignment with PMO governance standards.
• Own the proposal baseline development phase to validate executable cost, schedule, technical scope, and risk baselines in partnership with Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
• Enforce standardized Basis of Estimate (BOE) methodologies, ensuring sound assumptions, resource validation, and appropriate risk adjustments to support successful execution.
• Develop LOE estimates for PMO and other support functions that align to contract requirements and IMS durations.
• Conduct cross‑functional integration reviews to confirm alignment of technical solutions, schedule logic, staffing plans, supply chain strategies, and financial models.
• Prepare and support formal proposal gate reviews, including entry/exit criteria and executive‑ready decision materials.
• Deliver complete and accurate baseline handoff packages at contract award (IMS, cost model, risk register, SOW traceability, staffing profile, assumptions log).
• Identify and mitigate risks early to minimize post‑award EAC erosion and avoid re‑
• Ensure full compliance with internal governance, customer RFP requirements, and contractual terms.
• Collaborate closely with Business Development and Capture teams to balance competitiveness with execution realism.
• Track proposal‑to‑award performance metrics, including baseline variance and early cost/schedule deltas.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of program management experience in aerospace, defense, or other complex technical program environments.
• Demonstrated experience executing programs with fixed‑price or cost‑plus contracts over $100M.
• Proven capability in developing executable Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and cost baselines with cross‑functional inputs.
• Working knowledge of DoD, SDA, or similar government contracting environments.
• Experience with post‑award program baselining, including responsibility for cost, schedule, and margin performance.
• Strong cost–schedule integration skills, including resource‑loaded planning and BOE development.
• Ability to constructively challenge assumptions and enforce execution realism.
• Executive‑level communication skills and experience preparing gate review materials.
• Demonstrated cross‑functional leadership without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and risk management skills with attention to downstream execution impacts.
• High atte