Program Manager

Crane Aerospace & Electronics; West Caldwell (NJ); On-site; USD 147,300 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401k match

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Crane Aerospace & Electronics in West Caldwell, NJ seeks a Program Manager to lead cross‑functional teams through development to production. You will shepherd proposals, schedules, and resources to meet milestones, while coordinating engineering, operations, and supply chain to achieve manufacturable designs and cost targets.

The role emphasizes customer interface, risk management, and metrics reporting, with a focus on on‑time, within‑budget delivery in a defense/aerospace context.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in Program Management or related project management type position.
• Knowledge of PM philosophies and able to understand design and production processes.
• Demonstrated leadership, planning, organizing, and communication skills; MS Project proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate customer proposals and change requests; lead bid package elements, ensuring compliance with technical, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Develop, monitor, and update detailed program plans, schedules, and resource needs to meet customer milestones within established processes.
• Lead IPTs by coordinating engineering, operations, and supply chain to ensure manufacturable designs, cost targets, and successful new product introduction.
• Serve as primary customer interface through regular communication, progress reviews, scope management, and formal change‑control processes.
• Manage program cost, schedule, risks, and issues using standardized project management tools; drive mitigation actions and ensure stakeholder alignment.
• Facilitate smooth transition from development to production and lead preparation, collection, and communication of program metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Results Focus

Customer Service Orientation

Action Orientation

Planning & Organizing

Teamwork & Cooperation

Business Acumen

Decision-Making Skills

Education

BS degree in Engineering or technical discipline

Tools

Microsoft Project

MS Office / PC based office tools

Job description

Crane Aerospace & Electronics has an exciting opportunity for a Program Manager at our West Caldwell, NJ location.

About Crane

Crane Aerospace & Electronics supplies critical systems and components to the aerospace and defense markets. You’ll find Crane Aerospace & Electronics in some of the toughest environments: from engines to landing gear; from satellites to medical implants and from missiles to unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Every time you use phone navigation, make a bank transaction or have food delivered to your home, Crane Aerospace & Electronics Microwave product is hard at work. Located in the tight-knit, family‑first West Caldwell, NJ community, our West Caldwell facility supplies industry‑leading microwave components and systems for use in space, defense and commercial applications, including GPS III satellites. With more than 60 years of expertise, our Microwave group has proven capabilities in major military, communications, electronic warfare, radar and satellite systems. Start the next chapter of your career with Crane Aerospace & Electronics!

Job Summary

Program Managers provide leadership and management of cross‑functional business, technical, and operations teams while assuming accountability for overall success of assigned product development programs. Program management responsibilities extend from customer proposal, to program inception, through the successful transition to production processing after completion of qualification testing / certification compliance and production readiness reviews. Program success is measured by customer satisfaction of the development process and technical solution, accomplishment of schedule milestones, and adherence to recurring and non‑recurring cost targets.

Essential Functions

• Review and evaluate customer proposals and change requests; lead bid package elements, ensuring compliance with technical, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Develop, monitor, and update detailed program plans, schedules, and resource needs to meet customer milestones within established processes.
• Lead Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) by coordinating engineering, operations, and supply chain to ensure manufacturable designs, cost targets, and successful new product introduction.
• Serve as primary customer interface through regular communication, progress reviews, scope management, and formal change‑control processes.
• Manage program cost, schedule, risks, and issues using standardized project management tools; drive mitigation actions and ensure stakeholder alignment.
• Facilitate smooth transition from development to production and lead preparation, collection, and communication of program metrics to internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: 10 + years’ experience in Program Management or related project management type position.
• Knowledge: Proficient in Program Management philosophies and processes. Possess sufficient technical aptitude to understand design and production processes related to Crane A&E products.
• Skills/Abilities: Demonstrated Leadership Skills, Results Focus, Customer Service Orientation, Action Orientation, Planning & Organizing, Teamwork & Cooperation, Business Acumen, Decision‑Making Skills; Proficiency in Microsoft Project and other PC based office tools.
• Education/Certification: BS degree in Engineering or technical discipline.
• Eligibility Requirement: This position may require access to Controlled Data or Information. Where the position requires such access only US Persons will be considered. As a US Department of Defense contractor, we are bound by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants selected could be subject to a Government security investigation and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some experience in a technical field preferred, preferably aerospace.
• MBA or comparable advanced management degree
• Formal training in Program and / or Systems Management (PMI or equivalent)
• Experience in engineering product development and certification processes

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment
• Work requires substantial visual concentration on detail
• Working conditions are normal for a manufacturing environment
• Manufacturing operations may require the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to: eye safety glasses, gowning, masks, hearing protectors, heel/wrist straps and any other required PPE
• May be exposed to unusual environmental conditions such as loud noises, cold temperatures, confined spaces, dust or fumes
• Travel up to 10%

Standing: 20% (percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task)

Sitting: 80% (percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task)

Lifting (in pounds): up to 20 pounds

Pushing (in pounds): up to 20 pounds

Mental/Visual: use of computer

Workspace (line, cube, etc): Office or Cube

Top Benefits

• Health care, dental, vision, life and disability insurance starting the first day of the month
• 15 days of paid time off that start accruing your first day at Crane and 12 paid holidays per year
• 401k plan with company match
• Education Reimbursement: eligible after 6 months of employment

You can see a list of our benefits at https://www.craneae.com/company/careers or visit our website at www.CraneAE.com for more information on our company and great opportunities.

We are committed to operational excellence and world class processes. We employ Lean manufacturing techniques to optimize manufacturing efficiency and accuracy on all product lines. Our products are known for their technical strength, proven reliability and overall value.

In our efforts to maintain a safe and drug‑free workplace, Crane Aerospace & Electronics requires that candidates complete a satisfactory background check. FAA sensitive positions require employees to participate in a random drug test pool.

Salary Range

$147,300 - $183,000 The description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. Some roles may be eligible for participation in performance‑based bonus programs.

Crane Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.