OpenNash Jobs
Echostar · Germantown, Maryland

Senior Director of Program Management, Defense Solutions

Germantown, MarylandFull-timeDirector$185,000.00/YearExecutive & Management

Listed on Echostar’s official careers site. Posted September 24, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there.

Apply on Echostar’s careers site →

Job description

What Success Looks Like (Objectives)

Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development, maintenance, and execution of all program plans (PMP, IMP, IMS) to ensure alignment with contractual milestones, deliverables, compliance standards, and customer requirements.
  • Lead cross-functional, multi-contractor teams across engineering, integration, test, operations, and sustainment. This includes all aspects of a satellite ground system – civils, physical construction, outdoor and indoor equipment, and complex satellite communication and network components.
  • Partner with Engineering leadership to manage system architecture, integration, and technical baselines, and ensure the implementation of rigorous system engineering practices.
  • Manage program cost, schedule, and performance using Earned Value Management (EVM), driving successful completion of major program reviews and on-time delivery of all CDRL items.
  • Implement structured risk and opportunity management processes, leading issue resolution and escalation processes across stakeholders.
  • Implement quality management processes across all phases of the lifecycle, and ensure adherence to DoD standards, cybersecurity, and mission assurance requirements.
  • Serve as the primary interface with Government program leadership.
  • Report regular program status to internal executive level stakeholders. Core Skills, Competencies, and Key Experiences (What you’ll bring)

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, or a related field.
  • 18+ years of relevant work experience (15+ years with Master’s degree).
  • Prior experience with U.S. DoW, space, and/or satellite communications programs.
  • Must hold a U.S. government security clearance at TS/SCI.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Proven leadership of large, complex programs involving ground systems and/or space architecture procurements in excess of $150M.
  • Project Management Institute (PMI) PMP certification or equivalent.
  • Expertise with Earned Value Management (EVM) and reporting.
  • Strong background in systems engineering processes and lifecycle management.

Salary Range Compensation

$185,000.00/Year - $225,000.00/Year

About Our Department Hughes, an EchoStar company, seeks a Senior Director of Program Management within its Defense and Government Solutions Division (DGSD) to lead a major satellite ground system program for the U.S. Department of War (DoW). This role draws on Hughes’ 50-year legacy in satellite communications to connect commercial innovation with mission-critical defense capabilities of national security significance.

The individual in this role will be a seasoned Program Manager responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of a large-scale, global ground systems program for defense. This role is critical to ensuring disciplined delivery of mission-critical capabilities, bridging program execution excellence with technical rigor to meet stringent national defense requirements and to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

This position is primarily located at our Gaithersburg, MD office, though frequent travel to both CONUS and OCONUS customer locations may be required. About Our Company EchoStar is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products. Today, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.

Benefits

We offer meaningful health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) plan with company match, employee stock purchase plan, career opportunities, and a flexible time away plan.

Review a benefits summary here

EchoStar Benefits The base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, and competencies. Compensation is based on the role's location and is subject to change. Candidates need to successfully complete a pre-employment screen, which may include a drug test and DMV check. Our company is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where every individual has the opportunity to succeed.

We are dedicated to providing individuals with criminal or arrest records a fair chance of employment in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. This job posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled. We pride ourselves on developing and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

EchoStar will accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees if such accommodations are not undue hardships and are otherwise within the bounds of applicable law. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with local, state, and federal law. You may redact any information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of school/graduation from your application documents before submission and throughout our application process.

EchoStar will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities, unless doing so poses an undue hardship on the Company, poses a direct threat of substantial harm to others, or is otherwise not required by law. EchoStar has a more detailed Accommodation Policy that applies to employees. EchoStar endeavors to make echostar.com and jobs.echostar.com accessible to users.

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to discuss the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process. This contact information is for accommodation requests only; do not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. If you have questions regarding your application or the recruitment process please email [email protected] .

Click the links to access the following statements

EEO Policy Statement , Pay Transparency , EEOC Know Your Rights ( English / Spanish )

More jobs at Echostar

Chief of Staff

Germantown, Maryland

Accounts Payable Manager

Germantown, Maryland

Senior Accounting Specialist

Germantown, Maryland

Similar jobs at other companies

Program Management Director - Cyber

Lockheed Martin · Herndon, VA

Director, Design Program Management

eBay · San Jose, California

Program Management Director

Lockheed Martin · Fort Worth, TX

Director, Technology Program Management

Equinix · Remote, United States

OpenNash lists jobs from employers’ own careers sites and does not handle applications. Dates come from the employer where stated; “first seen” and “last checked” are our own observations.