Product Line Manager

InvestedintheMission; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment in the United States is seeking a Product Line Manager to design, develop, and manage a product line from concept through production and end-of-life.

You will lead cross-functional teams, define go-to-market plans, manage budgets and risks, and ensure ITAR compliance while delivering high-quality, mission-focused solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field or equivalent experience.
• 8–12 years in a technical development environment with ownership and results.
• Experience with R&D and product sustainment, and defense customers.

Responsibilities

• Owns a product line with full lifecycle responsibility from concept to sunset.
• Defines GTM plans, pricing, promotion, and features with marketing and BD.
• Develops technical and business requirements and user stories for PMO and engineering.
• Manages budgets, risk, and portfolio prioritization across projects.
• Interacts with customers to validate OPS concepts and requirements.
• Ensures ITAR/compliance and protects customer data per procedures.

Skills

Ownership mindset

Self-starter

R&D experience

Product sustainment

UAS knowledge

Budget management

Defense products

People management

Profit/Loss familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Tools

Office productivity software

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Product Line Manager designs, develops and manages activities for a specific group of products, or technologies, for AeroVironment, including, but not limited to, planning through production, release, and end of product life. This position communicates and facilitates relationships with customers, socializes roadmaps with internal teams, partners with executive and strategy teams, and works daily with Senior Product Line Management, Program Management and Engineering. May define creative, high quality, simple roadmaps for missions, products, and capabilities to achieve the company’s strategic goals.

Position Responsibilities

• Holds complete responsibility, accountability, and authority for a product line
• Supports a product line through the entire lifecycle, sunrise to sunset
• Establishes Go-to Market plans for new products while effectively balancing customer and business needs when retiring older products
• Collaborates with Marketing and Business Development to define product pricing, promotion, placement, and preferred features
• Supports the development of technical requirements, business requirements, and user stories which drive Product Requirements to Program Management, Engineering and Operations
• Supports the prioritization and trade-offs among projects to effectively manage SUAS portfolio, achieve a balance of products, and address resource needs
• Interfaces with customers to understand concept of operations and problem statements
• Supports fiscal year budgeting for product line R&D and sustainment activities and holds budget accountability for their respective product line
• Supports market assessments in support of current and future business opportunities
• Assesses product and project risks and provide feedback risk mitigation and contingency plans developed by PMO and Engineering
• Supports the new product introduction activities with engineering and operations and ensures alignment with the Go-to-Market plans
• Reviews product line performance metrics and takes action to address issues and/or opportunities
• Ensures project and customer data is protected in accordance with ITAR, security classification guides and company proprietary information procedures
• Identifies and manages organizational and/or customer conflicts. Comprehends and improves relevant development processes, and ensure adherence
• Works closely with Senior PLM team members to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments.
• Supports policy and procedure development for the Product Line team consistent with AeroVironment’s corporate Quality Management System
• Supports continuous improvement and seeks opportunities to drive change through the organization in support of product development, manufacturing, cost and quality.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum of 8-12 years’ experience in a technical development environment
• Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results – is a self-starter and self-directed
• Experience in R&D, and product sustainment activities
• Knowledge of UAS systems and products, and a track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency with office productivity software
• Experience managing a department or project budget
• Experience with Defense products and customers
• Experience managing the work of others
• Familiarity with managing Profit/Loss

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Leads with rapid agility to deal with shifting priorities, demands, and timelines
• Displays strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to analyze and break down problems into components
• Exhibits exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and R&D 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)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary

The salary range for this role is:

$111,000 - $169,250

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. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: 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. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.