Director, Aerostructures Portfolio

Divergent; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 211,550 - 290,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holistic Compensation Package

Paid vacation and parental leave

Comprehensive health and wellness benefits

Investment in professional growth

Collaborative high-performing environment

Job summary

Divergent, based in Torrance, CA, is seeking a Program Director, Aerostructures to lead a portfolio of aerostructure programs supporting U.S. Department of War and allied customers. This role demands strategic leadership, accountability for program performance, and customer alignment while spearheading collaborative initiatives within the organization.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and 10+ years of relevant experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, demonstrating a solid understanding of program management, P&L responsibilities, and defense acquisition processes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of aerospace and defense experience with significant program leadership.
• Proven experience leading teams in large defense programs.
• Strong understanding of defense acquisitions processes.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic direction for aerostructures programs.
• Lead and mentor a team of program managers.
• Interface with senior leadership for P&L and margin performance.

Skills

Program and Portfolio Strategy

Organizational Leadership

Customer and Government Engagement

Technical and Operational Strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

PMP or equivalent certification

U.S. Security Clearance

Job description

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end‑to‑end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer‑specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production.

Purpose

Divergent is seeking a Program Director, Aerostructures to provide strategic leadership for a portfolio of aerostructure programs supporting U.S. Department of War and allied customers. This role is accountable for long‑term program performance, customer alignment, and business outcomes across development, production, and sustainment. The Program Director, Aerostructures operates as a senior business leader, shaping program strategy, influencing customer roadmaps, and aligning engineering and operations to aerostructure portfolio objectives.

The Role

• Program and Portfolio Strategy: Own the strategic direction and long‑term execution plans for a portfolio of defense aerostructures programs. The Program Director will balance near‑term execution with long‑term affordability, producibility, and growth objectives while aligning program and customer strategies to DAPS platform development.
• Organizational Leadership: Lead, develop, and mentor a team of program managers and functional leaders to ensure program execution success and business growth. The Program Director will be responsible for aligning cross‑functional priorities across the aerostructures portfolio, to include setting expectations for execution across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and production.
• Portfolio Revenue Growth: Serve as the business owner for the aerostructure portfolio programs, accountable for P&L, margin performance, and revenue growth YoY. The Program Director will interface with senior leadership to influence financial planning, make/buy decisions, and data‑driven decision making at the portfolio level.
• Customer and Government Engagement: Act as the senior interface for DoW program offices, prime contractors, and executive level stakeholders. The Program Director will help shape customer programs, influence requirements, and position the business unit for future contract awards, while leading executive program reviews that support capture strategies and proposal development.
• Technical and Operational Strategy: Partner with engineering, operations, and platform leadership to define aerostructure technology roadmaps aligned to customer requirements. These strategies will account for development, certification, sustainment, and lifecycle support requirements for DoW Programs of Record.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of aerospace and defense experience with significant program and portfolio leadership
• Proven experience leading a team in executing large, complex defense programs or portfolios
• Strong understanding of defense acquisitions processes and customer environments
• Demonstrated success leading P&L, long‑range planning, and executive level engagements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• PMP or equivalent certification
• Experience influencing capture strategies and contract negotiations
• Active U.S. Security Clearance

Work Environment

This role will be based onsite in our Torrance, CA office.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at level M08 as evaluated through our interview process.

Pay Range: $211,550 USD - $290,880 USD

What We Offer

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world‑class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results‑based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you’re truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year‑end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well‑being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company‑sponsored life insurance and short and long‑term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We’re committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High‑Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high‑performing team within a fast‑paced, mission‑driven company. Together, we’re disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected.

E-Verify: Right to Work

Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.

Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.