Program Manager, Defense Contracts

The posting, as Hyliion wrote it

Hyliion is committed to creating innovative solutions that enable clean, flexible and affordable electricity production. The Company’s primary focus is to develop distributed power generators that can operate on various fuel sources to future-proof against an ever-changing energy economy.

Job Purpose

The Program Manager, Defense Contracts is responsible for leading Hyliion’s government and defense programs from opportunity review and proposal development through contract execution and customer delivery. The role coordinates engineering, operations, finance, business development, supply chain, and external partners to turn customer requirements into executable plans and keep scope, schedule, cost, risks, and deliverables on track. The position serves as the primary customer interface for assigned programs, including government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact. The role also leads the preparation of government proposals, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals, Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), and white papers. The position supports contract administration, reporting, and government compliance activities required by each program.

AI at Hyliion

At Hyliion, AI is core to how we work. We equip every team member with leading AI tools and count on you to use them — to move faster, solve harder problems, and help us realize the full potential of KARNO technology for the world.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional planning and execution of government and military programs, coordinating internal teams, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Review solicitations, contracts, statements of work, specifications, and customer commitments, and translate them into a requirements and deliverables matrix, work plans, schedules, owners, and acceptance criteria.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules, such as Gantt charts, and track milestones, dependencies, decisions, risks, issues, and corrective actions. Identify schedule or delivery concerns early and develop recovery plans.
• Coordinate technical and operational work to keep requirements and specifications aligned with system designs and customer expectations. Track hardware, software, and system deliverables through prototype and production schedules.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for assigned programs, managing day-to-day communication with government program offices, contracting officers, and technical points of contact, and ensuring customer priorities are reflected in program execution.
• Lead regular internal and customer program reviews. Prepare status materials covering technical progress, schedule, deliverables, risks, and spending, and provide weekly health updates and monthly reports as required.
• Develop program spend forecasts and track actual costs, commitments, and variances with Finance. Ensure program financial information meets customer reporting requirements.
• Work directly

[…]
ontracting and the ability to learn and apply applicable contract, reporting, and compliance requirements.

• Experience with program management tools and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work collaboratively, follow through on commitments, adapt to changing priorities, and meet agreed deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, internal teams, suppliers, and external partners.
• Experience with high-voltage systems and associated safety protocols.
• Ability to travel up to 10% to visit customers, engineering providers, and hardware suppliers.

Role Classification and Working Conditions

This is a salaried, exempt-level position. This position typically works in an office environment; and given the nature of our business is also exposed to operations/warehouses/production environments.

We are not accepting candidates who require sponsorship for this role at this time.
Benefits:

• Medical Plans, with PPO or HDHP options
• Dental Plans, with buy-up option
• Vision Plan
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Plans, with buy-up options
• Short Term Disability, paid for by the company
• Long Term Disability, paid for by the company
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401k/Roth 401k
• Voluntary Accident Plans
• Voluntary Critical Illness Plans
• Hospital Indemnity Plan

Hyliion is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, disability, veteran status. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to otherwise participate in the employment selection process, please direct your inquires to Hyliion’s human resources department at HR@hyliion.com .