General Manager, Systems

Stratolaunch- Huntsville; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 196,000 - 315,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Maternity and Parental Leave

401(k) employer match up to 50%

Parental leave benefits

Job summary

Stratolaunch Huntsville is seeking a General Manager, Systems to lead a multi-program aerospace and defense operation with full P&L responsibility. You will drive strategy, budgets, and growth while delivering complex subsystems to prime contractors.

The role requires 20+ years in aerospace/defense with P&L ownership, and a strong program management background. MBA or related advanced degree is preferred; hybrid collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and business development.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in aerospace/defense or related high-tech manufacturing with direct P&L ownership.
• Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, and margin management.
• Proven ability to hire, develop, and scale high-performing teams.
• Experience leading through directors or managers across program, production, and facilities.

Responsibilities

• Hold full P&L ownership for the business unit and drive revenue, cash, bookings and profit.
• Develop annual budgets, multi-year forecasts, and strategic objectives.
• Lead pricing, cost-reduction, and productivity initiatives for growth.
• Oversee multiple product lines, manage risks, and drive program execution.
• Engage customers, partners, and leaders while reporting performance to executives.

Skills

P&L ownership

Strategic leadership

Aerospace/defense industry experience

Program management

Budgeting & forecasting

Team building & talent development

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering or Business Admin

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

STRATOLAUNCH HUNTSVILLE

Help build the next chapter of hypersonic flight.

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

Stratolaunch is seeking a General Manager, Systems to serve as a business unit leader with full P&L responsibility, overseeing a multi-program aerospace and defense operation. The business unit will deliver the development, prototyping, and production scaling of aerospace and defense subsystems, delivering complex subsystems to prime contractors. The GM is accountable for overall operations, business unit strategy, customer relationships, business unit growth, and for positioning the organization as a leader in its market segment. This individual balances strategic vision with hands-on execution, making sound trade-off decisions across cost, schedule, and performance while building and maintaining a high-performing aerospace team. A strong candidate requires a strong sense of urgency, ownership, and the ability to successfully organize and lead a large group of aerospace professionals.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hold full P&L ownership for the business unit, managing and driving the team to achieve revenue, cash, bookings, and profit objectives
• Develop annual operating budgets and business unit objectives, along with multi-year financial forecasts
• Drive contract pricing, cost-reduction, and productivity initiatives to achieve business unit objectives
• Report financial and operational performance to executive leadership
• Determine where to place investments in infrastructure and technical capabilities to strengthen and grow the business unit

Product-Line and Program Leadership

• Deliver customer satisfaction by ensuring programs deliver results on-schedule, on-budget, to meet technical requirements, and aligned to business objectives
• Oversee and drive multiple product lines and programs simultaneously, balancing competing priorities and resource constraints
• Manage business unit and program risks proactively, using discipline and mitigation planning
• Recruit, grow, build, and maintain a high-performing and multi-skilled aerospace team to deliver best-in-class performance to customers
• Remove barriers for the team by leading yourself, and through department functions, to support program execution
• Guide products or programs from inception through full-rate production, partnering with engineering, program management, and business development on roadmap and lifecycle decisions

Operations & Facilities

• Direct and guide Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and day-to-day operational execution, driving the organization through quantified OKR’s and KPI’s
• Own facilities strategy, capacity planning, and capital investment projects
• Ensure compliance with all quality, safety, and regulatory requirements, including AS9100, ITAR, CMMC, DCSA, and state and local codes
• Directly lead Program Directors, Manufacturing, & Facilities functions, building a high-performing organization through coaching and development
• Lead in an environment where many functions are matrixed to the business unit: Business Development, Engineering, Quality, Safety, IT, Supply Chain, Security, etc
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Set a clear vision and direction for the team as an open, honest communicator
• Recruit, develop, and retain talent to scale the organization

Strategic Ownership

• Act as the primary point of responsibility for the business unit's overall performance
• Serve as a senior representative of the company, engaging customers, partners, and industry forums while providing regular performance updates to executive leadership
• Identify and pursue growth opportunities within the portfolio

QUALIFICATIONS

• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in aerospace, defense, or related high-technology manufacturing environments, including direct P&L ownership
• Technical background in fabrication, assembly, and integration of electrical and mechanical subsystems for aerospace vehicles
• Prior experience leading through subordinate directors or managers across program, production, and facilities functions
• Proven record of hiring, developing, and building successful teams
• Proven track record of driving successful change management at a senior level
• Demonstrated ability to make difficult trade-off decisions under constraints
• Strong financial acumen — budgeting, forecasting, and profit margin management
• Strong Program Management background
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline required; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in the fabrication, assembly, and integration of missile and interceptor systems
• Experience in hypersonic or defense manufacturing environments
• Background scaling operations in a high-growth company
• Familiarity with government contracting (OTA, FAR/DFARS)
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, and quality systems
• General Manager $196,300 - $315,391 with 30% target bonus. Base salary and leveling established on a case-by-case basis, considering location, education, skills, and experience.

This position and any resulting offer of employment may be contingent upon the timing and receipt of a related contract award.

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews. Benefits and our location(s) :

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Huntsville, Alabama, known as the Rocket City, combines a thriving aerospace and defense community with the affordability, outdoor access, and quality of life of the Tennessee Valley. Home to Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and one of the nation’s largest concentrations of aerospace, defense, and technology organizations, Huntsville has played a major role in America’s space and defense programs for generations—and continues to be at the center of what comes next.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Huntsville offers plenty to explore. Monte Sano State Park sits just minutes from downtown and features miles of hiking and mountain biking trails overlooking the Tennessee Valley. The nearby Tennessee River provides opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, and other water activities, while the region’s parks, greenways, and foothills make it easy to get outdoors year-round.

Prefer city life? Downtown Huntsville offers a growing mix of restaurants, breweries, live music, arts, sports, and entertainment. Catch a concert at the Orion Amphitheater, explore the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, or spend an evening at Toyota Field cheering on the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the region’s aptly named Minor League Baseball team. You can also explore the shops and restaurants at MidCity and Bridge Street or experience Huntsville’s growing arts scene. For a weekend getaway, Nashville, Birmingham, and Chattanooga are all within a few hours’ drive, with Atlanta also easily accessible.

Food and drink enthusiasts will find everything from Southern staples and barbecue to an increasingly diverse restaurant scene, local breweries, coffee shops, and cocktail bars. Huntsville blends the welcoming character of the South with the energy of one of the country’s fastest-growing technology and aerospace communities.

Whether you're drawn by the outdoors, the growing city, or the opportunity to build your career in the heart of America's aerospace and defense industry, Huntsville offers a unique place to live, work, and help shape the future of flight.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.