Director, Program Management

AeroVironment, Inc.; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 261,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Director of Program Management to lead a portfolio of complex domestic and international production programs, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery and compliance with customer requirements.

You will guide a team of program managers, oversee proposal strategy, contract negotiations, and regulatory compliance, and travel as needed. The role requires extensive production program management experience, strong leadership, and the ability to drive program excellence

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science or related field or equivalent experience.
• 7–10 years of directly related production and development program management experience.
• 5–7 years of people management of Project and Program Managers.
• Experience leading a major function or product area.
• Experience with budgeting, staffing, and multi-priority management.
• Knowledge of export compliance requirements and regulations.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Formulates and executes long-term master revenue plans and schedules in support of UAS production and delivery.
• Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure efficient operation of the Program Management Office.
• Accountable for departmental objectives and deliverables.
• Typically leads a team size of 5 to 8 Program/Project Managers.
• Identifies needed resources for programs, defines and assigns major program roles.
• Monitors the program from initiation through delivery, interfacing with internal and external customers.
• Leads and mentors program management staff and direction.
• Negotiates program statements of work (SOW) with clients.
• Supports policy and procedure development for Production Program Management and engineering.
• Reviews and approves contracts or cost estimates.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Program management

People management

Budgeting

Cross-functional leadership

Negotiation

Export compliance

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Director, Program Management is responsible for leading a portfolio of complex domestic and international production programs, ensuring successful execution from proposal through delivery and sustainment. This role provides strategic oversight of Program and Project Managers accountable for program scheduling, pricing, technical performance, and contract execution. The Director drives program excellence by leading proposal strategy, supporting contract negotiations, ensuring regulatory and export compliance, and guiding the successful execution of government and commercial contracts. The position plays a key role in business target initiatives while ensuring programs are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements. The Director leads cross-functional teams focused on the production and delivery of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), including occasional development-to-production transition efforts. Success in this role requires extensive Production Program Management experience, deep knowledge of export compliance requirements, strong business and operational acumen, and a proven ability to build, develop, and lead high‑performing teams. Occasional domestic and international travel is required.

Position Responsibilities

• Formulates and executes long‑term master revenue plans and schedules in support of UAS production and delivery.
• Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the Program Management Office.
• Accountable for departmental objectives and deliverables.
• Typical, will lead a team size of 5 to 8 Program/Project Managers.
• Identifies needed resources for programs, defines and assigns major program roles.
• Monitors the product/program/project from initiation through delivery, interfacing with both internal and external customers and field‑based employees on technical matters, as needed.
• Assigns and monitors work of program management staff, providing leadership, mentoring, and technical support and direction.
• Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare program statement of work (SOW).
• Support the development and implementation of policies, standards, or procedures for Production Program Management, engineering and technical work.
• Review, recommend, or approve contracts or cost estimates.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science or related field is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum of 7 – 10 years of directly related production and development program management experience.
• Minimum of 5 – 7 years' People management of Project and Program Managers.
• Experience leading a major function or product area.
• Controls planning, staffing, budgeting, managing multiple priorities and recommending and implementing change.
• Requires regular interactions with peers/leaders and managers across functions to identify and resolve issues.
• Leverages talent across the organization and across functions to achieve predictable Program/Project results.
• Utilizes leadership and negotiation skills to influence outcomes both within and outside of department area.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S and internationally.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree is preferred.
• Clarifies the functional or product strategy and long‑term goals for others; implements strategy with some autonomy.
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explores multiple potential paths, and adapts decision‑making style based on the situational circumstances.
• Inspires, motivates and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees.
• Manages project outcomes by providing feedback & support in a sensitive and clear manner.
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision; Ensures that individuals and teams are working in a manner consistent with organizational values.
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change and leveraging change management best practices.
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity.

Physical Demands Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

Clearance Level No Clearance

The salary range for this role is: $163,000 - $261,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI‑powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you’re ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR U.S. Citizenship required

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