Program Contracts Manager

ABOUT DEFCON AI

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems. In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.

About the Role

As we expand our U.S. Marine Corps program, we are seeking a Program Contracts Manager to build and own the contract operations backbone that enables successful program execution.

The Program Contracts Manager will own contract operations, subcontract administration, milestone acceptance coordinator, invoice readiness and execution governance for a major US defense program. 

You will build the systems, processes, templates, and operating rhythms that allow the program team to execute effectively while ensuring subcontractors, deliverables, invoices, modifications, and contractual obligations remain aligned. You will serve as the day-to-day owner of routine contract and subcontract execution.

What You'll Do

Own Contract & Subcontract Operations

Manage the full lifecycle of contracts and subcontracts, teaming agreements, and consulting arrangements

Draft, review, negotiate, and administer subcontract agreements and modifications

Translate prime agreement requirements into executable subcontract structures

Maintain subcontract records, deliverables, milestones, and commercial terms

Coordinate with program leadership and finance on business positions and negotiations 

Drive Milestone & Invoice Readiness

Develop and manage milestone tracking and contract execution artifacts

Coordinate acceptance-package development across technical, program, and finance stakeholders

Build invoice-support packages and readiness documentation

Identify and flag contractual and compliance risks including terms ambiguity, flow-down gaps, undocumented scope changes, and invoice or acceptance exposure before they become program or legal issues

Maintain audit-ready records and submission documentation

Build Scalable Contract Operations

Design templates, trackers, governance processes, and escalation paths

Build process that fits where the program is today while laying the foundation for where it needs to go

Improve discipline around contract execution without slowing delivery

Establish standards for documentation, reporting, and contract governance

Operate independently and effectively without established playbooks, defined predecessors, or a contracts team to hand work off to

Support Program Leadership

Conduct change-impact assessments and modification analysis

Develop decision-ready recommendations for leadership review

Support customer correspondence, clarification requests, and issue resolution

Escalate complex issues with facts, options, and recommended courses of action

Required Qualifications

Experience administering and negotiating contracts and subcontracts in a U.S. defense contracting environment

Experience drafting, redlining, and negotiating contract language

Experience translating prime contract requirements into subcontract flow-downs

Experience supporting milestone-based deliverables and contract execution

Experience building lightweight repeatable processes in fast-moving or immature environments

Ability to operate independently within a matrixed organization

Comfortable operating in ambiguity, making defensible decisions without complete information, and adjusting as the program evolves

US Citizen

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting defense technology or software programs

Familiarity with Other Transaction (OT/OTA) contracts

Experience working with acceptance-based invoicing models

Experience supporting multi-party subcontractor ecosystems

Familiarity with DoW program execution environments

NCMA CPCM or CFCM

Why This Role Matters

This role sits at the center of program execution. You will help ensure that contracts, subcontracts, milestones, deliverables, and payments stay aligned while enabling technical and program teams to focus on mission delivery. The right candidate is a builder, operator, and problem-solver who enjoys creating order from complexity and establishing scalable systems in a rapidly growing company.

What We Offer: 

A fully remote, results-based environment

Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package

100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family

Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval

Flexible work environment where you manage your work day

14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave

Salary Range: $110,000-$140,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.

  We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability. 

Applicant Data Disclosure    

By submitting an application, you acknowledge that Defcon AI uses third-party service providers to facilitate its recruitment and hiring processes. These providers include applicant tracking systems, candidate verification platforms, and fraud detection tools (collectively, "Hiring Platforms"). Your application materials, including your résumé, cover letter, work samples, responses to application questions, and any other information you submit, may be transmitted to and processed by these Hiring Platforms for the following purposes:   

Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;  

Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;  

Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.  

Applications that are flagged through this process as containing indicators of fraud or material misrepresentation may be declined from further consideration. If you have questions about the status of your application or the evaluation process, please contact   recruiting@defconai.com .    

Defcon AI requires its Hiring Platform providers to process your information solely for the purposes described above and in accordance with applicable law. Your information will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes and any applicable legal obligations, after which it will be deleted in accordance with Defcon AI's data retention policies.

For more information about how your data is used, please refer to our Privacy Policy and   Applicant Privacy Notice .