Lead Program Manager - Space Electronics

AeroVironment, Inc.; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 101,000 - 154,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a mid-career Lead Program Manager to oversee satellite electronics programs within the Space Technologies Division.

You will manage a flight computer product line, coordinate with customers on forecasts, and drive proposals and contract negotiations to ensure pricing stability and on-time delivery. The role requires strong leadership across functions, robust scheduling and risk management practices, and the ability to coordinate resources and reporting for internal

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field and 8+ years of relevant aerospace or technical experience as a project or program manager.
• Thorough knowledge and proficiency in all project management areas in accordance with industry standards (PMI/PMBOK) and related ISO/ANSI guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of a flight computer product line including forecasting demand and working with customers.
• Lead proposal development, ensuring stable product pricing and assisting contract management with cost/schedule/risk.
• Manage all assigned resources including people, facilities, budgets and schedules to meet performance requirements and commitments.
• Report on product/program status internally and externally and ensure responsibilities are clearly documented.

Skills

Project management

Customer interaction

Proposal development

Cross-functional leadership

PMBOK/PMI standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Systems Engineering, or related field

Master's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Systems Engineering, or related field

Job description

Worker Type Regular

Job Description Summary

AV has an immediate opening for a mid-career Lead Program Manager to support satellite electronics programs within its Space Technologies Division. AV provides a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across GEO, MEO, LEO and Cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to AV when a mission can't fail.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the management of a flight computer product line including:
• Working with customers to understand forecasts and demand for the product
• Leading proposal development, ensuring stable product pricing
• Assisting contract management in negotiations related to cost, schedule, and risk posture
• Partnering with material managers and supply chain to ensure inventory of electronic components is available and suppliers are meeting commitments
• Leading the development of an integrated master schedule
• Leading a risk management process for the product
• Managing all assigned resources including people, facilities, budgets, and schedules to meet performance requirements and commitments
• Reporting on product/program status internally and externally
• Ensuring project team members' responsibilities, accountability and authority are clearly documented and understood
• Ensuring assigned individuals are executing the assigned tasks and providing appropriate tracking and reporting per plan
• Facilitating the resolution of program issues
• Partnering cross functionally on configuration management and associated deliveries of the product
• Performing project management activities in accordance with accepted project management standards in the industry (e.g., PMI, Project Management Body of Knowledge [PMBOK], ANSI, and ISO-standards)

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field and 8+ years of relevant experience within aerospace or a technical field as a project or program manager
• Thorough knowledge and proficiency in all project management areas in accordance with Industry project management standards
• Ability to lead and direct the activities and resources within and across the organization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to listen, assimilate, evaluate, and summarize.
• Sound ability to communicate with the customer at all levels
• Knowledge of the Project Lifecycle from requirements definition, proposal preparation and negotiation and project implementation through to completion
• Strong initiative in defining, proposing, implementing, and communicating schedule metrics that support informed decision-making
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Master's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field and 10+ years of relevant experience within aerospace or a technical field as a project or program manager
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Physical Demands

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

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary range for this role is: $101,000 - $154,000

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.

For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits

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. ITAR U.S. Citizenship required.

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.

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.

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

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