Program Manager V

General Atomics; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 304,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) seeks a Program Director to plan, manage, and direct significant production programs from inception to delivery of aircraft and related systems.

The role requires 15+ years of program administration experience, including 9+ years in leadership roles, with a strong focus on schedule, cost, and quality control across multi‑site initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in engineering, science, or a related technical field, with 15+ years of progressively complex program administration experience, including at least 9 years managing programs.
• Demonstrates detailed and extensive technical expertise in program management with planning, scheduling, and coordinating complex production workloads.
• Single-point leadership over all production execution activities aligning Program Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering.
• Experience as primary interface to Operations translating contract and customer requirements into production plans, capacity and staffing needs, and executable build schedules.
• Proven track record of owning and managing production baselines to drive on-time, on-budget delivery while protecting program margin.
• Experience transitions from development to full-rate production, including configuration control and change management.
• Coordination of long-lead procurement, supplier performance, and material availability to maintain production flow.
• Experience with production metrics (throughput, yield, rework, on-time delivery) and leading corrective actions.
• Ability to develop solutions to complex production and integration problems with ingenuity.
• Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills to interface with all levels and ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, export, and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leads all phases of major production programs from contract award through completion and aircraft delivery, achieving cost, schedule, quality, and financial objectives.
• Develops and maintains overall program strategy, roadmap, and execution plans aligned with customer requirements and company objectives.
• Manages design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for research, development, testing, integration, and production.
• Coordinates with cross-functional teams and Supply Chain to ensure material availability, supplier quality, and on-time delivery while mitigating risks.
• Serves as primary customer and senior management contact for all program matters, leading reviews and reporting.
• Directs preparation of proposals, budgets, and contract terms including acquisitions and negotiations.
• Identifies and mitigates program risks, leads cost-reduction and efficiency initiatives, and reallocates resources as needed.
• Ensures technical leadership by attracting and retaining key management and technical talent.
• Leads development and expansion of new business opportunities and partnerships.
• Directs protection and security of proprietary technology and confidentiality.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in engineering or related technical field

Job description

57079BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Program Director!

This position is responsible for the planning, managing and technical performance of significant program to support new production. The Program Director is responsible for leading major production programs from start to finish, overseeing multiple developing products or components that are important to the company’s future growth and strategic objectives. They coordinate the use of new technologies and methods to meet program requirements and typically manage through subordinate managers rather than directly supervising individual staff. The role involves making high-impact decisions, where errors could result in substantial time and resource expenditures.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads all phases of major production programs from contract award and conceptualization through completion and aircraft delivery, ensuring cost, schedule, quality, business, and financial objectives are achieved.
• Develops and maintains overall program strategy, roadmap, and execution plans aligned with customer requirements and company objectives, including new program plans and delivery methods that may span multiple products and customers.
• Manages the establishment of design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for research, development, testing, integration, and production.
• Works with cross‑functional teams and Supply Chain to ensure material availability, supplier quality, and on‑time delivery, while monitoring and mitigating supply chain risks.
• Serves as the primary customer and senior management contact for all program matters, leading formal program reviews and ensuring timely, accurate program reporting.
• Directs and influences the preparation of proposals, business plans, work statements, operating budgets, and contract terms and conditions, including acquisitions, negotiations, and modifications.
• Identifies and mitigates program risks, leads cost‑reduction and efficiency initiatives, and resolves issues through resource reallocation or changes to scope or specifications.
• Ensures technical leadership and excellence by attracting, developing, and retaining key management, professional, and technical talent.
• Contributes to long‑term Group and Company objectives by leading the development and expansion of new business opportunities, partnerships, and programs.
• Directs the protection and security of proprietary technology and maintains strict confidentiality of sensitive information.

Clearance / Regulatory

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, if required by program.
• Ability to work within ITAR and other export control requirements.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications:

• Typically requires a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in engineering, science, or a related technical field, as well as fifteen or more years of progressively complex program administration experience, with at least nine of those years managing programs; may substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of program management principles, concepts, and practices, including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating complex production workloads to meet established deadlines and milestones.
• Justified by the need for single‑point leadership and accountability over all production execution activities, ensuring alignment between Program Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering.
• Requires experience serving as the primary interface to Operations or equivalent functional organizations, translating contract and customer requirements into production plans, capacity and staffing needs, and executable build schedules.
• Necessitates a proven track record of owning and managing production cost, schedule, and performance baselines to drive on‑time, on‑budget delivery of contracted aircraft while protecting program margin.
• Supported by experience overseeing transitions from development and low‑rate builds into full‑rate production, including configuration control, change management, and incorporation of design and process improvements.
• Requires demonstrated capability to coordinate long‑lead procurement, supplier performance, and material availability to maintain a stable production flow and mitigate supply chain risk.
• Justified by the need to implement and monitor key production metrics (throughput, yield, rework, on‑time delivery) and to lead corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Must be able to develop solutions to complex production and integration problems that require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.
• Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to effectively interface with cross‑functional teams, all levels of management, customers, potential customers, and government representatives, and to ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, export, and quality requirements across the production lifecycle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering.
• Formal program management certification (e.g., PMP or equivalent) or completion of an internal PM development program.
• Direct experience in unmanned systems, ISR payloads, or similar GA product lines.
• Experience transitioning programs from development/qualification into full‑rate production.
• Experience managing multi‑year, multi‑site, or international production programs.

Job Category:

Engineering

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle:

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low:

173,500

Pay Range High:

304,000

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

No

US Citizenship Required?:

Yes

Clearance Required?:

Desired

Clearance Level:

Secret

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.