James Parks
Charles Town,W.V.
Summary
Results-driven Project Manager with a proven ability to lead diverse teams and deliver complex engineering projects on time and within budget. Known for maximizing resource utilization, mitigating risks early, and fostering stakeholder trust to accelerate decision-making and boost efficiency. Seeking to leverage leadership strengths and technical insight to drive value in a dynamic, growth-focused environment.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
NIGHTWING (Formally a Raytheon company)
04.2024 - Current
- Managed the full project lifecycle for advanced RF communications technology, overseeing laboratory operations from initial prototype building to successful federal deployment for tier-one government stakeholders.
- Managed full lifecycle of multiple projects within a $5M+ annual program, ensuring on-time delivery and budget compliance.
- Oversaw schedules and scope for concurrent projects valued at $2.5M, driving timely execution and risk mitigation.
- Led monthly Project Management Reviews (PMRs) and quarterly award fee briefings with PMO and COTR, ensuring transparency, accountability, and stakeholder alignment.
- Formally a Raytheon Company
PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
RAYTHEON
08.2021 - 04.2024
- Managed day-to-day operations of a multidisciplinary engineering work center, delivering small- to medium-sized RF communications systems while optimizing resource allocation, mitigating risks, and maintaining strong client relationships.
- Oversaw internal project financials, delivering precise estimates for materials and labor to ensure strict adherence to budget constraints.
- Directed a 16-member cross-functional engineering team through all project phases, successfully delivering a critical system within an accelerated 22-day timeline
- Spearheaded financial performance tracking, delivering comprehensive cost-benefit analyses and labor estimates that ensured consistent project funding and stakeholder alignment.
PRINCIPAL FIELD ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
RAYTHEON
08.2017 - 08.2021
- Optimized the procurement lifecycle through the establishment of high-value vendor relationships; delivered an immediate ROI by reducing annual operational expenditures by $492K
- Led a team of 7 full-time employees, overseeing performance evaluations, training initiatives, career development planning, and annual compensation reviews.
- Defined and controlled project scope tracked progress against objectives and enforced rigorous control measures ensuring consistent delivery on customer requirements.
LAND MOBILE RADIO SME
CHARTIS CONSULTING
11.2015 - 08.2017
- Managed planning, implementation, and lifecycle oversight of large-scale radio communications projects, driving operational reliability, continuous improvement, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Planned and coordinated major training programs and conduct classroom/field training sessions to instruct staff at various levels in highly technical functions.
- Authored a wide variety of professional documentation including performance evaluations and work procedures.
SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIST
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS
06.2011 - 11.2015
- Led Public Safety radio system implementation projects across the Washington, D.C. area, managing installation, ongoing maintenance, and performance optimization to ensure mission-critical reliability
- Managed client relationship and coordinated technical activities between Motorola and government stakeholders to ensure project objectives were met
- Developed and delivered training programs on P25 conventional radio system maintenance for Motorola clients.
LAND MOBILE RADIO TECHNICIAN
THE EXPERTS
12.2010 - 06.2011
- Managed the end-to-end maintenance lifecycle for mission-critical Motorola infrastructure (Quantar repeaters/base stations), ensuring 99.9% uptime in high-stakes field environments
- Supervised technical installations and repairs of vehicular communication systems, leveraging complex schematic analysis to meet rigorous quality assurance standards and project timelines.
AIRFIELD SYSTEMS JOURNEYMAN
U.S. AIR FORCE
09.2000 - 12.2010
- Managed equipment maintenance processes, ensuring strict compliance with USAF and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policies and regulations to guarantee optimal performance in troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair activities.
- Spearheaded performance management and professional development for a 18-person technical unit; implemented coaching programs and objective-based evaluations to align individual output with project milestones.
- Orchestrated a recurring preventative maintenance program, leading a team of 5 to successfully complete 30 high-priority inspections ahead of schedule.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Operations Management with concentration in Project Management
Southern New Hampshire University
Skills
- project management
- budget compliance
- client relationship management
- cross-functional leadership
- effective communication
- risk mitigation
Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP), 4103319, 04/01/25, 04/01/28
Security Clearance
TS/SCI w/ Full-Scope Poly
Accomplishments
- TS/SCI w/ Full-Scop Poly
Timeline
PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
NIGHTWING (Formally a Raytheon company)
04.2024 - Current
PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
RAYTHEON
08.2021 - 04.2024
PRINCIPAL FIELD ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER
RAYTHEON
08.2017 - 08.2021
LAND MOBILE RADIO SME
CHARTIS CONSULTING
11.2015 - 08.2017
SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIST
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS
06.2011 - 11.2015
LAND MOBILE RADIO TECHNICIAN
THE EXPERTS
12.2010 - 06.2011
AIRFIELD SYSTEMS JOURNEYMAN
U.S. AIR FORCE
09.2000 - 12.2010
Bachelor of Science - Operations Management with concentration in Project Management
Southern New Hampshire University