Senior Program / Product Manager - Army at Raft

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MarylandFull-timeEngineeringPosted 9 days ago

About the Role

<div class="content-intro">This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.</div>This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.  <h2>Who We Are</h2> Raft builds data and AI platforms that power mission-critical decisions for the U.S. Department of War. As the Army accelerates its command and control modernization effort through the C2Now initiative under CPE C3N at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Raft is positioned as a key technology partner delivering its Raft Data Platform ([R]DP) at enterprise scale across Army divisions and corps. <h2>About The Role</h2> As a Senior Program/Product Manager supporting Raft's Army portfolio, you will own the full health of a large, fast-moving program from delivery execution to customer relationship management to long-term growth. This is a high-visibility role that places you at the intersection of Raft's product capabilities and the Army's most pressing data and command and control modernization priorities. You will lead a cross-functional software development team, serve as the primary interface with Army program stakeholders, and ensure Raft delivers on its contractual and mission commitments with excellence. This is not a passive coordination role. You will be expected to drive outcomes, navigate organizational complexity within the Army acquisition ecosystem, and operate with the same ownership mindset you would bring to running your own program. You will work directly with Raft's executive leadership and have meaningful influence over how the program evolves. If you have Army DNA, understand how data flows in a tactical and enterprise C2 environment, and know what it takes to deliver software at the pace the Army needs, this role was built for you. <h2>What You’ll Do</h2> <ul> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Own program health end-to-end: delivery execution, contract performance, risk management, and stakeholder alignment across a large Army software program supporting [R]DP deployments at division and corps scale.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serve as Raft's primary interface with Army program stakeholders at CPE C3N, and associated program offices, building the relationships and customer intimacy that sustain and grow the program.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lead a cross-functional Agile software development team, ensuring sprint execution is aligned to contract deliverables, customer requirements, and product roadmap priorities.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Translate Army operational requirements and mission needs into clear product direction for engineering teams, bridging the gap between what warfighters and program offices need and what the software delivers.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Partner with Raft's executive and business development teams to identify and shape follow-on opportunities, support contract modifications, and contribute to RFI/RFP responses that grow the Army portfolio.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Navigate Army acquisition processes including modifications, CDRLs, deliverable reviews, and contract execution requirements with confidence and without needing hand-holding.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Develop and maintain program artifacts including status reports, roadmaps, risk registers, and executive briefing materials for both internal leadership and government customer audiences.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Represent Raft on-site at Aberdeen Proving Ground with professionalism, credibility, and a deep understanding of the Army culture and operating environment.</li> </ul> <h2>What We’re Looking For</h2> <ul> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5+ years of experience in program, project, or product management with a focus on software delivery, ideally in a defense or government contracting environment.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Direct U.S. Army background: either as a former Army officer or NCO with operational and/or acquisition experience, or as a civilian deeply embedded in Army programs. You understand Army culture, rank structure, how decisions are made, and how to work within that system effectively.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Demonstrated experience with Army data, command and control systems, or network modernization programs. Familiarity with Army C2 concepts, mission command systems, and the operational data landscape is a strong differentiator.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Proven ability to lead software development teams through Agile delivery cycles, manage competing priorities, and keep a program on track in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of engaging effectively with senior Army and DoD stakeholders, program offices, and contracting officers.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">STEM degree or equivalent technical acumen. You do not need to write code, but you need to understand what your engineering team is building and communicate about it credibly with both technical staff and non-technical customers.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">High adaptability and a bias for action. You know how to drive clarity when requirements are ambiguous and make defensible decisions without waiting for a perfect information picture.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Personable, relationship-driven, and culturally aligned with a fast-paced defense technology company where everyone moves fast and wears multiple hats.</li> </ul> <h2>Highly Preferred</h2> <ul> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prior Army acquisition experience, including familiarity with Army Acquisition Corps processes, PPBE, and major acquisition milestones.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hands-on familiarity with CPE C3N (formerly PEO C3N/PEO C3T), Army Futures Command, DEVCOM C5ISR, or related Army program offices at Aberdeen Proving Ground.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience with C2Now, NGC2, IBCS, JADC2-related programs, or other Army command and control modernization initiatives.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Understanding of Army tactical and enterprise data environments, including experience with Common Operating Picture systems, data fabrics, or edge-to-enterprise data architectures in an Army context.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Background in competitive team environments, military service, or high-commitment leadership roles that demonstrate the ability to perform under pressure, operate within a team, and push hard to win.</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience shaping and winning follow-on contract work, contributing to proposals, and participating in customer capture strategies.</li> </ul> <h2>Clearance Requirements</h2> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Active Secret clearance required to begin</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Must be eligible for and willing to obtain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility</li> </ul> <h2>Salary Range: $150,000.00 – $190,000.00</h2> <ul> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate’s comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities.</li> </ul> <h2>Work Type</h2> <ul> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Onsite at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD - relocation assistance provided</li> <li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">May require up to 35% travel to customer sites, Raft offices, and partner locations.</li> </ul> What we will offer you:   <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Highly competitive salary</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">401(k) and company match</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Education & training benefits</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Generous Referral Bonuses </li> </ul> And More!   Our Vision Statement:   We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.   Our Customer Obsession:   We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.  How do we get there?   Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.   Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.   We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. <div class="content-conclusion">We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.</div>

About the Role

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