Program Manager - U.S. Government

About Nominal

Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that's purpose-built for them.

Nominal is building the Hardware Intelligence Platform that gives engineers increased visibility into complex physical systems, helps them make better decisions, and ultimately gets their products into the real world faster. It brings together the systems, data, intelligence, and applications hardware engineering requires to meet the AI moment. Hardware engineering teams use Nominal to simulate, test, manufacture, and operate the physical systems that keep the world moving, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation energy systems and robotics.

Our customers span aerospace, defense, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and robotics. They include Anduril, Shield AI, Wisk Aero, Pratt Miller Motorsports, Antares, and Shinkei Systems, amongst others, alongside programs within the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Tesla, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

Some of the world's leading technology investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Insight Partners, are backing Nominal's ambition to change how machines are built and operated. We're looking for engineers who want to take on hard problems and help make a new generation of world-changing hardware possible.

About the role

We're hiring a Program Manager to lead the execution and growth of Nominal's most strategic government customer engagements, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, and other critical agencies.

This role sits at the center of our government accounts after contract award.

You will act as the programmatic hub across the Government customer, Nominal's Government Business Development team, Mission Operations, Engineering, Product, Legal, and Finance to ensure successful execution, strong customer relationships, and continued account expansion.

You'll serve as the primary program owner responsible for ensuring customer success, coordinating delivery across internal teams, and helping Nominal grow its footprint with key government organizations.

This role combines technical program management, customer leadership, and operational coordination. You will work closely with engineering and mission operations teams to translate customer requirements into execution plans, guide deployments of Nominal's platform, and ensure programs deliver measurable mission outcomes.

️ What you'll do

Own program success for strategic government customers

• Serve as the central owner of program execution in key government accounts. Ensure projects stay on track, internal teams are aligned, and customers experience clear and consistent value from Nominal's platform.

Build strong relationships with government stakeholders

• Develop trusted working relationships with program offices and key stakeholders across government organizations. You'll serve as a primary point of contact responsible for communicating progress, surfacing feedback, and maintaining alignment.

Coordinate cross-functional execution

• Work closely with Mission Operations, Product, Engineering, BD, Legal, and Finance to ensure programs run smoothly and customer needs are translated into clear execution plans.

Drive program planning and delivery

• Develop long-term execution plans, track milestones and deliverables, and ensure teams are aligned on timelines, priorities, and customer outcomes.

Communicate program success

• Proactively communicate program progress and impact to customers and internal stakeholders through updates, documentation, and reporting.

Identify opportunities for account growth

• Work closely with the Government BD team to identify expansion opportunities, surface new use cases, and help position Nominal for follow-on work with existing customers.

Support technical deployments and implementations

• Partner with internal teams to translate mission requirements into clear deployment and execution plans, helping ensure successful adoption of Nominal's platform.

We're looking for someone with

• 5+ years of experience in program management, technical delivery, or customer-facing roles in technology, defense, or government environments.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with customers while coordinating internal teams to deliver strong outcomes.
• Strong organizational and program management skills, including planning, milestone tracking, and risk management.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical execution into clear updates for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfort operating in fast-moving environments where roles and processes are still evolving.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%.
• This position requires you to currently possess and be able to maintain a U.S. security clearance, in order to meet U.S. regulatory eligibility requirements for the access to classified information associated with this role.

Skills that accelerate us

• Experience supporting government customers or mission-oriented organizations
• Background in defense technology, government technology, or national security environments
• Military service or prior experience supporting operational programs
• Experience managing technical deployments or product implementations
• Comfort operating at the intersection of technical teams, customers, and business leadership

Benefits/Perks

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• ️ Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• ️ Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• ️ In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
• ️ Annual company retreat

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.