Aerospace Program Manager: Lead Cross-Functional Teams

Ducommun, Inc.; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ducommun, Inc. in Appleton, WI seeks a Program Manager to drive execution across all program aspects, ensuring compliance with technical and contractual requirements, schedules and budgets. You will be the primary customer liaison and shepherd requirements down to all functions.

You will lead IPTs, manage cost, schedule, and margins, coordinate with operations, monitor bookings and cash flow, and drive proposals and continuous improvement initiatives. Travel ~30% to customer sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 3-7+ years aerospace/manufacturing experience.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage programs through cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Experience in production control, project/program management, or contracts management.
• Familiarity with Lean and Six Sigma.
• Familiarity with MRP systems.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary liaison between Ducommun and customers, managing communications, scorecards, surveys, and leading program reviews.
• Lead Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to align internal stakeholders with customer requirements, schedules, and recovery plans.
• Represent the company in customer and external interactions, ensuring timely updates on cost, quality, and schedule impacts.
• Oversee contract compliance by reviewing terms, preparing negotiation strategies, and managing customer deliverables.
• Coordinate with Operations on staffing, capital planning, and performance to support program execution.
• Monitor program financials, including cost, margin, schedule performance, and cash flow forecasting.
• Track and manage business unit bookings, backlog, sales, receivables, and drive new business capture strategies.
• Lead proposal efforts for new and follow-on business, including coordinating estimating, schedules, and customer submittals.
• Support continuous improvement through Lean, Kaizen, and cost-reduction initiatives aligned with customer and company goals.
• Travel to customer sites approximately 30% of the time.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Verbal and written communication

Production control

Project management

Contracts management

MS Office

Detail-oriented

Lean Six Sigma

MRP systems

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA degree

PMP / CAPM certification

Tools

MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Ducommun, Inc. in Appleton, WI seeks a Program Manager to drive execution across all program aspects, ensuring compliance with technical and contractual requirements, schedules and budgets. You will be the primary customer liaison and shepherd requirements down to all functions.

You will lead IPTs, manage cost, schedule, and margins, coordinate with operations, monitor bookings and cash flow, and drive proposals and continuous improvement initiatives. Travel ~30% to customer sites.