Program Manager

Base pay range

$/yr - $/yr

The Technical Program Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering aerospace and defense programs in alignment with customer requirements, contractual obligations, and company revenue and profitability goals. This role serves as the primary post‑award point of contact for customers and coordinates closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure successful execution from contract award through delivery and post‑sale support.

• Support drafting and review of RFI, RFP, and RFQ responses.
• Identify and communicate follow‑on business opportunities with existing customers.
• Support capture of additional business through ongoing programs.

• Partner with Sales and Product Management to ensure smooth transition from contract award (PO receipt) to program execution.
• Review customer contracts and purchase orders; provide formal acknowledgements.
• Ensure all functional groups review customer and contractual requirements and define compliance methodologies.
• Establish and maintain program “Job” folders post‑award.
• Serve as the primary customer point of contact after contract award.
• Provide technical coordination between engineering and stakeholders to ensure compliance with aerospace and defense standards.
• Participate in technical reviews and oversee system integration activities.

• Develop, maintain, and execute the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) aligned with contractual milestones and customer requirements.
• Establish priorities for matrixed teams, resolve resource conflicts, and ensure timely functional hand‑offs.
• Track program status, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies when schedules, cost, or performance are at risk.
• Maintain continuous, transparent communication with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Organize and lead key customer and program milestones, including Kickoff Meetings (KOM), SRR, PDR, CDR, SOI, PRR, and Program Review Meetings (PRM).
• Coordinate customer meetings and on‑site visits.
• Prepare and deliver program status reports and documentation.
• Manage engineering change requests, scope changes, and negotiate impacts with customers.
• Ensure timely delivery of all contractual deliverables, including test reports, certificates of conformity (CoC), and shipping documentation.
• Coordinate qualification testing activities and review results for adequacy.
• Enforce production readiness reviews and manage transition from development/prototyping to production.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Supply Chain to address end‑of‑life component risks.
• Escalate significant issues to executive leadership as needed.

• Own full program Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility.
• Develop and manage program budgets, forecasts, and cost controls.
• Calculate and track Estimate to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Monitor actual vs. budgeted costs, gross margin, and variances.
• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles where applicable.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to ensure program profitability and corrective actions.
• Develop, track, and report key performance metrics.
• Maintain regular customer engagement following product delivery.
• Lead resolution of warranty and non‑warranty issues.
• Support program lifecycle activities including redesigns, upgrades, and subsequent RFQs.

• 10+ years of experience in Program Management and/or Operations Management within aerospace and defense environments.
• Bachelor’s degree required;
  Engineering degree strongly preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Experience managing programs across all lifecycle phases: design & development, qualification testing, pilot production, rate production, and aftermarket support.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing with customer engineering, program management, subcontracting, and executive leadership teams.
• Knowledge of defense‑related avionics/electronics systems; airborne recording, processing, and routing experience is a plus.
• Familiarity…