Position Summary: We're partnering with a rapidly growing manufacturer supporting some of the most innovative launch vehicle and satellite programs in the commercial aerospace industry and are seeking a highly driven Program Manager to lead critical customer-facing initiatives.
This is not a traditional program management role. We're looking for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, embraces ambiguity, and can drive execution across complex, high-visibility programs. The successful candidate will serve as the central point of coordination between customers, leadership, engineering, operations, and manufacturing teams, ensuring programs remain on track while navigating evolving priorities and aggressive timelines.
The ideal candidate brings a strong ownership mentality and a proven ability to transform complex challenges into structured execution plans. This individual will be responsible for managing program scope, schedules, risks, and cross-functional activities while maintaining clear communication with both internal stakeholders and customers. Success in this role requires sound decision-making, adaptability, and the ability to execute with urgency in an environment where priorities can shift quickly.
Summarize and report status to teammates, suppliers, customers, and management.
Initiate and manage programs throughout the product realization process, including engineering requests of all types.
Utilize the open issues matrix which includes risk mitigation plan.
Develop and manage the program budget and report updates to management as required.
Develop and drive program timing with internal milestones, e.g., design reviews, tooling, PRP gate reviews, and external milestones.
Manage multiple discipline engineering teams to meet internal and customer requirements such as TS16494, APQP, and AIAG.
Support the Business Unit or Regional Strategic Plan, facilitating activity execution and communicating to stakeholders as required.
Manage experimental process development activities as needed.
Manage new tooling engineering requests and program launches throughout the product realization process.
Present required phase-gate reviews to management.
Participate in DVP&R, DFMEA, and PFMEA development meetings.
Support APQP and VA/VE activities.
Supervise Quality Engineers, along with other functional Engineers as requested.
Conduct timely and meaningful performance evaluations for direct reports, and provide input into the performance evaluations of associates reporting under your indirect supervision.
Assess current and future development needs for direct reports and take steps to mentor and develop them accordingly.
Set the direction for team members and hold individuals accountable to performance standards and strategic objectives.
Identify and train a back-up(s) to manage key tasks when absent.
Additional functions not specifically outlined in this position description as directed by the leader.
Position Skills and Experience Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Minimum of three years of post-undergraduate degree experience in a project/process/manufacturing management role.
Bachelors of Science in Engineering or Business Administration.
Masters of Business Administration preferred.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong stakeholder management skills: effectively interacts and influences associates and customers at all levels.
Ability to interpret and analyze technical procedures and customer specifications.
Independent and organized work style: effectively manages time and prioritizes multiple tasks
Prior experience working cross culturally on global teams.
Demonstrated experience managing complex project plans and timelines based on input from other team members.
Demonstrated experience managing task dependencies and risks.
Prior experience managing or coaching less experienced team members.
