Assistant Program Manager ITPP - GM Defense

About this role

Description

Remote/Hybrid - This role is based remotely, but if you live within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Warren, Mountain View or Milford, you are expected to report to that location three times a week, at minimum.

About GM Defense

GM Defense (GMD) continues a 100-year legacy of designing, validating, and manufacturing vehicles, power, propulsion, and integrated technology solutions in support of defense and other government customers. Within GM Defense, the Integrated Technologies, Power, and Propulsion (ITPP) portfolio supports a broad range of programs that adapt commercial and emerging technologies for demanding tactical, security, mobility, energy, and mission-focused applications. This may include militarized commercial off-the-shelf (MILCOTS) vehicles, advanced propulsion solutions, battery-enabled systems, and alternate technology offerings tailored to customer needs.

The Role

The Assistant Program Manager supports business and execution outcomes across GM Defense and ITPP programs. These programs may include vehicle platforms, integrated technology solutions, power and propulsion initiatives, customer-specific adaptations of GM commercial products, and selected MILCOTS-related efforts for U.S. and international government customers.

This customer-facing role supports the primary Program Manager as the main point of contact for U.S. and international government customers and helps drive scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and team performance. The Assistant Program Manager will:

• Primarily support a Program Manager who owns overall program outcomes.

• Independently own and execute smaller, lower-risk programs and/or workstreams under the guidance of a more senior Program Manager.

The ideal candidate:

• Has experience contributing to complex, cross-functional vehicle or defense programs.

• Brings strong financial discipline and business acumen, with a developing sense of program P&L ownership.

• Is skilled at collaborating with and coordinating high-performing cross-functional teams.

• Thrives in ambiguity and demonstrates problem-solving leadership with appropriate guidance and oversight.

• Has experience working with GM Truck program teams or similar vehicle platform teams, with an understanding of vehicle content, customer value, and how commercial capabilities can be adapted to unique defense and government mission needs.

What You'll do:

Program execution and governance

• Support end-to-end execution of multiple, simultaneous programs from capture through delivery and sustainment, using GMD's gated processes.

• Assist in defining, developing, and managing product program content for vehicles, including content/feature decisions, change control, and cost/weight/performance trade-offs.

• Coordinate vehicle integration (chassis, armor, powertrain, electrical, software, and upfit content) with engineering, ensuring technical feasibility, manufacturability, safety, and in-service performance.

• Help maintain program imperatives (scope, schedule, cost, resources, risk, quality) and support establishment and maintenance of standard operating mechanisms (e.g., integrated master schedule, risk register, financial reviews, issue dashboards).

• Prepare materials and support the Program Manager in chairing and/or representing programs in internal forums (PET, VPIT, Dev-Val, ECE Ops, gate reviews), ensuring clear decisions, escalations, and accountability for closure.

• Independently lead smaller, well-bounded projects or sub-programs, with clear scope, defined risk profile, and guidance from the Program Manager.

Cross-functional leadership and decision making

• Support the cross-functional Program Execution Team (PET) for assigned GM Defense and ITPP programs, including engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, sustainment, and business development.

• Integrate supporting functional processes (engineering release, sourcing, validation, manufacturing readiness, quality, sustainment) into coherent and executable plans for assigned workstreams and help expand/update processes when needed.

• Identify, quantify, and help mitigate program risks and issues, including development and tracking of contingency plans and gap-closure actions with clear owners and dates.

• Assist in optimizing and managing program workflows, eliminating waste and improving responsiveness, quality, and predictability.

Customer interface and external leadership

• Support the Program Manager as a key interface to government and industry partners for programs, participating in day-to-day interactions and formal reviews (e.g., PMRs, IPRs, customer gate reviews).

• Prepare content and analysis to represent assigned programs in support of business development and capture activities, including shaping requirements, proposal content, rough order of magnitude estimates, pricing inputs, and execution plans.

• Independently represent select smaller programs or workstreams in customer discussions, aligned with guidance from the Program Manager.

People leadership and culture

• Serve as a role model for GM Behaviors and GM Defense culture within the program team.

• Support onboarding, coordination, and day-to-day direction of program coordinators or other support staff as assigned, without formal direct-report responsibility.

• Help establish clear expectations, behavioral norms, and performance standards within the program team; provide informal feedback and peer coaching where appropriate.

• Foster a culture of safety, compliance (including CUI/ITAR), integrity, and continuous improvement.

• Maintain effectiveness in changing environments, technologies, and mission priorities while balancing Government/Customer and GM Defense objectives.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree required.

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Supply Chain, or other business/operations…