Lead and deliver complex IT projects and portfolio work, align IT and business stakeholders, manage risks and dependencies, mentor teams, produce executive communications, and drive adoption of change management and governance practices.
Job Description
The IT Project Manager II serves as a strategic leader responsible for driving complex initiatives that advance IT and enterprise-level objectives. This role leads with influence, guiding cross-functional teams, shaping project direction, and ensuring clarity, alignment, and accountability across all stakeholder groups. The Project Manager owns the successful delivery of all assigned projects and sets the standard for communication, execution discipline, and strategic decision-making in a matrixed environment.
The Operations Strategic Capabilities Unit plays a fundamental role in enabling efficient business and program execution - from strategic capital investments, industrial operations and an efficient supply chain, to state-of-the-art manufacturing and test operations and top-notch facilities management.
What You'll Do:
Remote Work Considered: This position combines in-person collaboration and customer engagement with independent work. Based on multiple factors, remote work may be considered and is at the discretion of the business. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions:
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Multiple positions may be available on this opening.
The IT Project Manager II serves as a strategic leader responsible for driving complex initiatives that advance IT and enterprise-level objectives. This role leads with influence, guiding cross-functional teams, shaping project direction, and ensuring clarity, alignment, and accountability across all stakeholder groups. The Project Manager owns the successful delivery of all assigned projects and sets the standard for communication, execution discipline, and strategic decision-making in a matrixed environment.
The Operations Strategic Capabilities Unit plays a fundamental role in enabling efficient business and program execution - from strategic capital investments, industrial operations and an efficient supply chain, to state-of-the-art manufacturing and test operations and top-notch facilities management.
What You'll Do:
- Lead the development and execution of a unified project portfolio that aligns directly to IT and enterprise strategies, ensuring the right projects are prioritized and resourced.
- Act as a senior-level partner to IT leadership and business stakeholders, influencing decision-making and ensuring roadmaps, priorities, and change initiatives are clearly understood.
- Serve as the primary strategic liaison between IT and business organizations, driving alignment, resolving competing priorities, and ensuring transparency across all levels.
- Provide authoritative leadership across all phases of the project lifecycle, ensuring disciplined execution, proactive issue resolution, and adherence to project governance.
- Build, mentor, and inspire high-performing project teams; establish clear expectations, promote accountability, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Deliver concise and actionable communications, including executive-ready status reports, portfolio insights, and project performance metrics.
- Shape and maintain a stakeholder engagement strategy that ensures clarity, buy-in, and sustained support from IT, business partners, program leadership, and value streams.
- Identify, communicate, and resolve high-impact risks and dependencies, removing obstacles and ensuring forward momentum.
- Champion organizational strategy and drive adoption of change management practices across project workstreams.
- Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
Remote Work Considered: This position combines in-person collaboration and customer engagement with independent work. Based on multiple factors, remote work may be considered and is at the discretion of the business. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions:
- Work is performed in an office environment, laboratory, cleanroom, or production floor.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
- BS/BA in related field plus 8 or more years related experience.
- Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate IT project portfolio and lead multiple projects simultaneously including but not limited to infrastructure build and maintenance, application development and deployment, and network optimization.
- Ability to work in dynamic high tempo environment and directly interface with customer.
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with an ability to determine an appropriate level of detail given project milestones.
- Excellent planning, and time management skills.
- Solid computer knowledge, must be proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, SharePoint, and PowerPoint).
- Proven ability to work in a team environment and able to work independently as needed.
- Excellent team leadership skills.
- Comfortable with, and able to provide structure to, ambiguous and fluid situations.
- Self-starter who takes initiative, and is also able to work well in teams.
- Analytical and problem solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma and ITIL concepts.
- Ability to scope, manage, execute and deliver on multiple small to large, complex projects in a timely manner.
A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
- PMP preferred will consider CSM (Certified Scrum Master).
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Multiple positions may be available on this opening.
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
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- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
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- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

