Program Manager

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR) is a subsidiary of HEICO Corporation. With over 60 years of experience, HEICO serves the aerospace, defense, and electronics industries, earning recognition as one of Forbes' “Best Small Companies” and “Hot Shot Stocks”. SBIR designs and manufactures advanced infrared and electro‑optical test instrumentation supporting military and commercial sensor systems worldwide in laboratory, production, depot and field test environments.

The company values an energetic, high‑performance culture that focuses on delivering quality products and services.

• Generates, manages and coordinates comprehensive program plans, schedules, budgets and technical performance for SBIR programs.
• Provides leadership and direction to the engineering, design, and production teams for program deliverables. Sets and continuously manages project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Owns program performance by maintaining intimate awareness of technical product performance requirements, and by enforcing disciplined concept and design reviews that robustly demonstrate compliance with those performance requirements.
• Ensures that same technical performance diligence is flowed down to SBIR's sub‑contractors and suppliers, and ensures that the same technical discipline is adhered to when validating sourced sub‑assemblies and critical parts.
• Interacts on a regular basis with customer program stakeholders to provide status and understand requirements and expectations. Manages the relationship with the customer.
• Proactively manages changes in project scope, assesses risks and builds contingencies into program plans.
• Generates, in concert with technical and functional team members, and owns program work breakdown structure (WBS).
• Works closely with SBIR engineering, procurement, production, and quality departments as well as vendors to ensure work plans and resource allocation support program goals.
• Supports proposal efforts by providing costing; schedules, estimated labor in concert with vendors and engineering; technical proposal writing and editing; kickoff meetings, TIMs and CDRs.
• Manages multiple programs (5 to 10) that total 10 to 15 million in annual revenue.
• Must be able to make programmatic decisions when presented with conflicting or incomplete information from technical staff. Understands and manages technical risks.
• Works with Accounting department to maintain ETCs, EACs and spend plans.
• Stays in sync with Finance department on spending and on‑contract labor execution, to facilitate accurate P&L forecasting for CPFF and Percent‑Complete contracts.
• Provides monthly program updates to senior management.

• Indirectly supervises and manages team members that work on specific programs.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

• BA/BS in Engineering or Sciences, or other technical degree strongly preferred; or four to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical experience in optical or infrared sensors, optics, materials, systems engineering or electronics.
• Experience managing complex programs across multiple disciplines, including engineering, production, subcontractors, sales and marketing.
• Skilled and experienced in managing-through-influence in a fast‑paced technology environment.
• Creative, critical thinker. Must be able to anticipate problems and propose solutions in a timely manner.
• Strong written, oral and interpersonal skills.
• Public speaking and presentation skills required.
• Experience with program management software platforms such as MS Project preferred.
• Basic understanding of enterprise resource planning and accounting concepts preferred.

Due to US Export Control Regulations compliance, eligible candidates MUST be a US citizen, permanent resident or an individual granted asylum; proper documentation is required. Candidates must pass background, reference, ITAR/EAR checks and a pre‑employment drug screen.

This position offers many benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, HSA, FSA, alternate work week schedule, LTD, life insurance and much more.

$110,000/yr.

- $160,000/yr.

- DOE

EOE

Male/Female/Veteran/Disabled