Senior Program Manager - Aviation programs

MDA; Richmond; On-site; CAD 170,426 - 234,335; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care

Flexible drug plans

Dental and vision benefits

Life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Employee assistance program

Job summary

MDA is seeking an experienced program manager for their Aviation Program in Richmond, Canada. The role focuses on managing project execution, leading a technical team, and interfacing with key stakeholders like USAF and NAV CANADA.

The ideal candidate will have a BSc or BEng, 15+ years in program management, and a strong understanding of aviation workflows. Competitive compensation and benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans, are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in program/project management in regulated environments.
• Proven performance leading multi-disciplinary software engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of financial tracking and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for program execution and delivery excellence.
• Own customer interface and maintain stakeholder communication.
• Manage program resources and grow the technical team.

Skills

Leadership

Financial tracking

Critical thinking

Aviation domain knowledge

Education

BSc/BEng in engineering or applied science

Job description

ABOUT 49NORTH

49North is a Canadian defence company delivering secure, multi-domain C4ISR capabilities that provide decision advantage in complex and contested environments. A wholly‑owned subsidiary of MDA Space, building on more than five decades of trusted Canadian defence delivery, 49North operates as a sovereign Canadian provider of mission‑critical C4ISR systems, bringing disciplined prime‑contractor execution to defence and security programs.

Visit 49North | An MDA Space Company.

49North is rooted in the execution of large, complex, and mission‑critical programs developed within 49NORTH. This legacy reflects a record of delivery where engineering rigour, operational reliability, and national trust are non‑negotiable.

49North Defence strengthens Canada’s sovereign defence capability by delivering integrated mission systems and multi‑domain C4ISR integration, enabling trusted Canadian and coalition operations, assured interoperability, and sustained readiness.

Program/Project Description

The Aviation Program is comprised of two main projects Global Procedure Designed (GPD) and Automated Charting and Encoding (ACE).

GPD was originally developed in the early 2000’s for the USAF. GPD is an easy‑to‑use Windows based decision support application that enables procedure design specialists to rapidly create an instrument procedure anywhere in the world. The application integrates a GIS module for procedure design visualization and drag‑and‑drop operations fine‑tuning to avoid terrain and obstacles. GPD supports many standard input and output data formats (e.g., AIXM, ARINC, DAFIF and DVOF).

In 2022 GPD was enhanced for NAV CANADA with many features including TP308 criteria and support standard terminal arrival route and enroute procedures.

GPD is currently in use by more than 350 design specialists, building and evaluating procedures for locations all over the world.

ACE is a next generation aeronautical chart management solution that provides fully automated chart production directly from aeronautical data sources. Automatically transforming digital flight procedures into interactive, publication‑quality aeronautical charts. Transforming operations through a dramatic reduction in the time and cost required to generate aeronautical charts and ARINC encodings.

The speed, simplicity and power of ACE were drivers in the National Geospatial Agency’s decision to implement ACE as the standard for automated aeronautical chart generation.

Strategic Impact

• Overall authority and responsibility for the Program
• Strategic alignment of projects to business objectives and customer contracts
• Stakeholder alignment & satisfaction across internal and external partners
• Delivery excellence: on‑time, on‑budget, in‑scope
• Team performance & accountability: clear priorities, realistic plans, predictable outcomes, empowerment
• Risk & opportunity management: identify early, mitigate, and leverage

Responsibilities

• Execution: Accountable for integrated cross‑functional project execution, remove barriers, enforce baselines, drive issue resolution
  • Cross‑functional orchestration with Planning, Finance, Supply Chain/Subcontracts
  • Establish a continuous improvement culture to improve tools, systems and business processes
• Schedule & cost: Own IMS, monitor and control, act early on variances, implement recovery actions with Finance alignment
  • Own overall delivery within cost, schedule, scope envelope
  • Maintain quality, on‑time deliveries and within budget
• Stakeholders & communications: Own customer interface and internal stakeholders, provide transparent status, maintain shared situational awareness and support
  • Customer/commercial interface, stakeholder alignment and communications
  • Collaboration and communication with internal stakeholders; Engineering, Contracts, Quality and Finance departments, in support of portfolio execution
• Effective Team Leadership: Guides Project Leads or Team Leads within their scope, fostering accountability and efficient execution through effective leadership skills
  • Manage Program‑resourcing levels, in collaboration with Engineering and Talent Acquisition.
  • Grow the technical team, onboard new hires, provide growth opportunities for the existing team, set clear goals
• Planning (baseline WBS & IMS): define milestones/critical path, integrate risks, resources, and assumptions validated with functions
• Forecasting: surface early indicators, address root causes, drive corrective actions and options
• Scope & requirements: Formal change control with Contracts/Engineering, ensure traceability and acceptance evidence, protect baselines and prevent scope creep
• Risk & opportunity management: escalate beyond authority with options & recommendations
• Support BD to grow business: develop existing and new customers

Job Complexity

• Operates independently for significant periods
• ~50 direct staff
• ~$15m per annum revenue
• Supervision of Project Leads and Team Leads
• Complex customer interfaces, with multiple key accounts: USAF, NGA and NAV CANADA
• Significant interaction with New Business on multiple strategic pursuits

Qualifications / Requirements

• BSc, BEng, or equivalent in an engineering or applied science discipline
• Minimum 15 years of experience in program/project management, preferably in a safety‑critical/mission‑critical regulated software or systems engineering environment
• Proven past performance leading multi‑disciplinary software engineering teams
• Strong understanding of financial tracking and reporting
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Result orientated and exhibits excellent critical thinking
• Works well in a dynamic environment where some of the parameters are unknown and some change regularly
• Strong knowledge of system and/or software engineering standards, methodologies, and lifecycle practices
• Flexibility: does what needs to be done, makes sure nothing slips through the cracks
• Strong understanding of Aviation domain, workflows and data requirements
• Experience in product‑based, design‑to‑cost environments considered an asset

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the secret level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

Benefits statement

49North provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of 49North, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.

Equal opportunity statement

49North is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

Accommodations

49North is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

Compensation range

The compensation range for this position is $122,400.00 - $168,300.00 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.