Program Manager, Strategic Defense Accounts

About the role

You will own the end to end mission success for strategic Department of Defense and Intelligence Community accounts spanning the U S Navy, U S Marine Corps, U S Special Operations Command, and the broader IC ecosystem. In this capacity you will act as the primary post award leader responsible for translating customer intent into delivered capabilities and sustained operational capability. You will build and nurture trusted relationships with warfighters, acquisition professionals, program offices, and contracting authorities to ensure alignment between technology and mission outcomes. You will partner deeply with internal teams to de risk deployments, resolve issues rapidly, and drive long term account growth through renewals and follow on funding. Your work will directly influence how Skydio autonomous systems are employed in critical operational environments. You will leverage data driven insights to demonstrate value and identify expansion opportunities that reinforce the strategic impact of Skydio solutions. This role requires disciplined program management judgment and a commitment to customer success at the highest level of government engagement.

Key facts

What you'll do

Serve as the primary post award lead and trusted advisor for strategic Navy, Marine Corps, SOCOM, and Intelligence Community accounts.

Drive successful deployment, operational integration, sustainment, and adoption of Skydio solutions while ensuring customers achieve mission outcomes.

Own contract execution, customer health, program risks, and overall account success metrics.

Develop and maintain strong relationships across operational units, program offices, acquisition organizations, contracting activities, and senior leadership.

Lead Quarterly Business Reviews, executive engagements, and mission focused customer reviews that demonstrate value and surface growth opportunities.

Partner with Sales and Business Development to drive renewals, follow on funding, capability expansion, and account growth initiatives.

Translate customer requirements, mission needs, and acquisition objectives into coordinated action plans across Sales, Product, Engineering, Operations, and Support teams.

Proactively identify program risks, issues, and dependencies while providing clear visibility to customers and Skydio executive leadership.

Coordinate internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful execution of customer commitments, milestones, and program objectives.

Capture customer feedback, operational insights, and after action reviews to inform product roadmap priorities and future capability development.

Champion adoption of Skydio autonomy features within complex operational environments to maximize mission utility and user confidence.

Ensure compliance with defense acquisition policies, contractual terms, and customer governance processes across the program lifecycle.

Support proposal development, solution validation, and trade studies where relevant to address evolving customer requirements.

Act as a subject matter expert on Skydio capabilities, limitations, and performance characteristics in defense and intelligence contexts.

Represent Skydio at customer forums, coordination meetings, and cross functional working groups to maintain strong program momentum.

Requirements

Must have experience managing customer programs, strategic accounts, acquisitions, or mission critical technology deployments within the Department of Defense, Special Operations community, or Intelligence Community.

Possess a strong understanding of defense acquisition processes, budgeting, and contracting mechanisms, including FAR/DFARS, OTAs, IDIQs, BAAs, and other rapid acquisition pathways.

Have demonstrated experience working with Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Managers (PMs), acquisition professionals, operational end users, and senior military leadership.

Show proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and build trusted relationships across operators, acquisition organizations, and executive leadership.

Demonstrate a strong grasp of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process and the broader defense procurement lifecycle.

Have a proven track record driving customer adoption, mission outcomes, renewals, and expansion opportunities within government accounts.

Exhibit exceptional communication and briefing skills with experience engaging O 6 GO FO leadership, SES personnel, and senior acquisition officials.

Highly collaborative with a bias for action, comfortable operating in ambiguous and rapidly evolving mission environments.

Strong analytical and problem solving capabilities, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present clear recommendations.

Commitment to operating with integrity, discretion, and professionalism in engagements involving sensitive defense and intelligence missions.