Software Hardware Project Manager jobs in Fort Meade, MD
Software Hardware Project Manager (SHPM)
Technical project delivery, software and hardware coordination, schedule control, risk management, and stakeholder communication for cleared mission programs.
Apply for this RoleGS Consulting Environment
Driving Delivery in Technical Mission Environments
Brilliant engineering still fails when delivery is sloppy. Software architectures, hardware prototypes, requirements, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations all have to move together. That is the job of a strong Software Hardware Project Manager.
At GS Consulting, SHPMs sit at the intersection of technical execution and program delivery. This role is for project managers who can understand engineering tradeoffs, manage risk, communicate clearly with government stakeholders, and keep teams focused on mission capability instead of meeting noise.
The Work
What the Role Looks Like Day to Day
SHPM work is not just maintaining a schedule. You may run a planning meeting, clarify requirements with a customer, help an engineering lead resolve a blocker, update financial tracking, prepare a milestone briefing, and decide which risk needs attention before it becomes a delivery problem.
A typical day may include coordinating software and hardware teams, tracking dependencies, managing Agile or Waterfall delivery artifacts, updating Jira or Microsoft Project, reviewing budget or resource status, and translating technical progress into language leaders can act on.
Mission and Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
Our Software Hardware Project Managers own the delivery discipline around complex technical work. Depending on your LCAT level, you will be expected to:
- Oversee the full project lifecycle for integrated software and hardware development initiatives.
- Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, resource allocation plans, and milestone tracking.
- Facilitate Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or Waterfall delivery methods based on mission requirements and customer constraints.
- Identify, document, and mitigate technical and programmatic risks while clearing roadblocks for engineering teams.
- Serve as a liaison between technical teams and government stakeholders through status reports, milestone briefings, and financial tracking.
Technical Domains
Required Technical Domains
Successful Software Hardware Project Managers at GS Consulting bring delivery discipline and technical fluency across these domains:
- Software Development Life Cycle and hardware engineering processes
- Project scheduling, resource management, and financial tracking
- Risk management and mitigation planning
- Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, and systems engineering frameworks
- Stakeholder communication, milestone briefings, and delivery governance
- Requirements tracking, engineering coordination, and technical project execution
Preferred Degree Fields and Certifications
A degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is preferred. Project Management Professional certification is highly valued. Agile certifications such as CSM or PMI ACP and ITIL credentials are also strong discriminators.
Tools and Mission Context
Delivery Tools Only Work When Judgment Comes With Them
Strong SHPM candidates may use Jira, Microsoft Project, Confluence, spreadsheets, reporting dashboards, resource plans, risk registers, and briefing decks. Those tools help, but the real value is knowing what needs to be escalated, what can wait, and what the customer actually needs to know.
You may work with software engineers, hardware engineers, systems engineers, analysts, UX designers, security teams, and government stakeholders. GS Consulting looks for project managers who can protect the team from noise while keeping the customer informed and confident.
Qualification Paths
LCAT Qualification Paths
We are actively staffing billets across all four Software Hardware Project Manager levels. Relevant experience should involve direct project management of technical, IT, software, hardware, systems engineering, or mission delivery initiatives.
Level 1
- Bachelor Degree plus 2 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 0 years of experience
Level 2
- Bachelor Degree plus 5 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 3 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 0 years of experience
Level 3
- Bachelor Degree plus 8 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 6 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 4 years of experience
Level 4
- Bachelor Degree plus 11 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 9 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 7 years of experience
Compensation
Estimated Compensation Range
Estimated compensation for Software Hardware Project Manager roles ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 per year. Final compensation depends on LCAT level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
The range is intentionally broad because this posting covers Levels 1 through 4. A junior SHPM may manage defined tasks and reporting rhythms, while a senior SHPM may own delivery strategy, risk posture, resource tradeoffs, and government stakeholder communication across complex engineering efforts.
Career Growth
How SHPMs Grow Across Levels
Growth in this role is not just managing bigger schedules. It shows up as better risk judgment, stronger stakeholder communication, clearer prioritization, and the ability to help technical teams deliver without losing sight of cost, schedule, and mission value.
At GS Consulting, that growth can mean leading larger technical programs, mentoring junior project managers, improving delivery governance, supporting product and UX coordination, or moving into roles that connect program delivery, systems engineering, and mission operations.
Why GS Consulting
A Focused Team for Technical Delivery
Technical project management can become paperwork if the manager is too far from the work. GS Consulting keeps delivery tied to mission outcomes. We care about clear priorities, useful reporting, risk that gets handled early, and technical teams that can execute without constant churn.
If you want to manage work where software, hardware, and mission needs meet, this is the right kind of role. We are looking for people who can communicate plainly, challenge weak plans, and help teams deliver capabilities the customer can actually use.
Role Questions
Software Hardware Project Manager FAQ
What does a Software Hardware Project Manager do?
A Software Hardware Project Manager leads delivery for technical projects that combine software, hardware, systems engineering, and customer mission requirements. The role includes schedule management, risk tracking, resource coordination, stakeholder briefings, status reporting, budget awareness, and helping engineering teams deliver usable capability on time.
What clearance is required for GS Consulting SHPM roles?
GS Consulting Software Hardware Project Manager roles require an active TS/SCI clearance. Candidates must also meet customer, contract, and site access requirements for the specific billet. If additional customer screening is required, that will be handled during recruiting rather than posted as public qualification language.
What experience is required for SHPM Level 1, 2, 3, and 4?
Level 1 starts at a Bachelor Degree plus 2 years or a Master Degree plus 0 years. Level 2 ranges from 0 to 5 years depending on degree path. Level 3 ranges from 4 to 8 years. Level 4 ranges from 7 to 11 years. Relevant experience should involve project management of technical, IT, software, hardware, or engineering initiatives.
Are these Software Hardware Project Manager jobs onsite?
Yes. These roles support cleared work in the Fort Meade, MD and Annapolis Junction area. Because the work involves sensitive mission systems, classified facilities, and customer environments, candidates should expect onsite work rather than a remote arrangement.
What skills make a strong SHPM candidate?
Strong candidates understand technical delivery, software and hardware engineering workflows, schedule management, resource planning, risk management, Agile or Waterfall delivery, financial tracking, and stakeholder communication. The best SHPMs can keep engineers unblocked while giving government leaders a clear view of progress, tradeoffs, and risk.
How do I apply for GS Consulting SHPM roles?
Use the Apply for this Role button on this page or email your resume directly to info@gsconsultingllc.com. Include your active clearance level, current project management certifications, primary delivery experience, preferred level, and any relevant software, hardware, systems engineering, or mission program background.
Ready to drive the mission forward?
Send us your resume. Please include your active clearance level, current project management certifications, preferred SHPM level, and any relevant technical delivery, software, hardware, or systems engineering program experience.