Job Description

Technical Program Manager – Team Lead (5G)

Position Summary

The Technical Program Manager – Team Lead directs the planning, execution, and delivery of 5G and cellular technology programs from concept through fielding. The role leads multidisciplinary engineering teams and serves as the principal interface with government stakeholders, industry partners, and vendors, translating mission requirements into technical solutions delivered on schedule and within budget.

The ideal candidate combines a strong technical foundation in cellular technologies, particularly 5G, with a proven record of leading cross-functional teams and working at the strategic level with partners to achieve mission outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a cross-functional team of network, systems, security, and infrastructure engineers.
• Resource Management: Set priorities, assign work, balance staffing across concurrent efforts, and hold the team accountable for delivery.

Program Execution

• Program Planning: Define scope, integrated master schedules, milestones, and deliverables for 5G programs.
• Cost & Schedule Control: Manage budgets, labor and material planning, and Bills of Materials; track cost, schedule, and performance.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, schedule, and operational risks; drive issues to resolution.
• Delivery & Transition: Oversee integration, test, and evaluation, and transition capabilities into operational use.

Strategic Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner Engagement: Serve as the principal liaison to government customers, mission partners, industry, and academic partners.
• Strategic Alignment: Shape program strategy and roadmaps in line with customer priorities and emerging technology.
• Vendor Management: Direct multiple vendors and subcontractors to meet contractual, technical, and mission requirements.
• Executive Communication: Brief senior leaders and executives on program status, risks, decisions, and outcomes.

Technical Direction

• 5G Architecture: Guide solution design across 5G Core, RAN, network slicing, private 5G, and edge computing.
• Requirements Translation: Convert operational needs into technical requirements, architectures, and acceptance criteria.
• Security & Compliance: Ensure solutions meet cybersecurity, RMF, and applicable DoD requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of experience managing technical programs in telecommunications, communications systems, or related fields.
• Five (5) or more years leading cross-functional technical teams.
• Strong working knowledge of cellular technologies, including 4G LTE and 5G (NR, 5G Core, RAN, network slicing, and edge computing).
• Demonstrated experience working at the strategic level with government, industry, or mission partners to deliver mission-critical outcomes.
• Proven experience managing multiple vendors and subcontractors on complex programs.
• Experience with program management practices: scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and earned value or equivalent performance tracking.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including briefing senior leaders and executives.
• Active Secret security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, information technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional and military experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Operational Experience: Delivering communications capabilities for DoD, special operations, or other mission-critical customers
• Tactical Communications: Deployable cellular systems, MANET, and Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) integration
• Emerging Technology: Private 5G, Open RAN, Internet of Things, and unmanned or autonomous systems integration
• Acquisition Knowledge: DoD acquisition processes, SETA/contractor support, and technology transition
• Agile Delivery: Agile or hybrid program management in a technical environment

Certifications

Required

• Project Management Professional (PMP): Or equivalent (e.g., PgMP or DAU Program Management).
• CompTIA Security+: Or equivalent, per the DoD 8140 matrix for this position.

Preferred

• 5G certifications: From a recognized provider such as Nokia, Ericsson, or IEEE.
• Agile certifications: Such as PMI-ACP, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or SAFe.