Senior Engineering Project Manager - Avionics Networking

GE Aerospace; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

GE Aerospace is seeking a Senior Engineering Project Manager to lead avionics development programs for civil and military aircraft. The role covers end-to-end project execution, including scheduling, risk, cost tracking, and performance metrics across hardware, software, and system integration. On-site in Grand Rapids, MI or Clearwater, FL with relocation assistance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of technical project leadership, systems engineering, or avionics design.
• Experience managing schedule, cost, and risk for hardware and/or software product development.
• U.S. citizenship status required.
• Ability to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Lead an Integrated Project Team to develop avionics networking products meeting quality, cost, and schedule.
• Establish and maintain the integrated master schedule, WBS, risk and opportunity register, cost tracking, and performance metrics.
• Lead FLIGHT DECK Daily Management, Visual Management, and Problem Solving routines to surface issues early and resolve them with countermeasures.
• Manage scope, schedule, cost, and risk using Earned Value Management (EVM) with objective evidence.
• Collaborate across cross-functional teams (systems, software, hardware, test, safety, certification, applications engineering).
• Travel to customer sites as needed (up to 15%).

Skills

Project leadership

Systems engineering

Avionics design

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

DO-178C

DO-254

ARINC 664 (AFDX)

TSN

Lean / Kaizen tools

Job description

Job Description Summary

Help define the future of flight at GE Aerospace! The ION (Input/Output & Networking) team is seeking a Senior Engineering Project Manager (EPM) to lead avionics development projects for civil and military aircraft platforms.

The Senior EPM is responsible for project execution infrastructure, including the integrated schedule, risk management, cost tracking, metrics, and FLIGHT DECK Daily Management. The EPM will provide business and technical direction for a cross-functional product team spanning hardware (DO-254), software (DO-178C DAL A), and system integration. The role demonstrates the ability to identify critical path dependencies and to take timely, data-driven action to meet project milestones while controlling technical requirements, cost, risk, and quality.

The ideal candidate combines technical depth in avionics hardware and software development with strong project management and lean experience, and is credible enough to challenge engineering decisions and recognize risk early.

This position is based on-site in Grand Rapids, MI or Clearwater, FL. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead an Integrated Project Team (IPT) as it develops avionics networking products that meet customer requirements for quality, cost, and schedule while maintaining alignment with the product roadmap.
• Establish and maintain project infrastructure, including the integrated master schedule, work breakdown structure, risk and opportunity register, cost tracking, and performance metrics.
• Implement and lead FLIGHT DECK Daily Management, Visual Management, and Problem Solving routines so that issues surface early and are resolved through structured countermeasures.
• Manage scope, schedule, cost, and risk using Earned Value Management (EVM) and data-driven tracking, ensuring schedule commitments are grounded in objective evidence rather than optimism.
• Serve as technical and financial leader across cross-functional teams (customers, program management, systems, software, hardware, test, safety, certification, and applications engineering), assuring "cradle to grave" success.
• Collaborate closely with Systems and Technical Leads to manage KPIs and to monitor and control execution of key activities.
• Ensure scope, funding, and reporting are clearly planned and tracked across multiple customers and funding sources.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to convey project status, garner support, elevate concerns, and resolve issues consistent with the company's values and financial objectives.
• Provide status updates and performance metrics to program, business, and technical leadership, as well as customers.
• Support proposal development and bid estimates using work breakdown structure methodologies to estimate labor and material, and build scope‑of‑work specifications for suppliers and subcontractors where appropriate.
• Lead customer meetings with the Program Manager, including preparation of material for design reviews, technical information reviews, and certification milestones (SOIs).
• Coordinate with other organization EPMs to identify and implement process improvement opportunities.
• Mentor team members to build core team strength and efficiency.
• Travel to customer and project sites as needed (up to 15%).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical project leadership, systems engineering, or avionics design.
• Demonstrated experience managing schedule, cost, and risk for hardware and/or software product development projects.
• This position requires U.S. citizenship status.
• Ability to support up to 15% travel.

Desired Characteristics

• Previous Engineering Project Manager experience on avionics or other safety-critical product development projects.
• Working knowledge of DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and ARP4754A development and certification processes, ideally in DAL A environments.
• Familiarity with avionics data communication technologies such as ARINC 664 (AFDX) and/or Time Sensitive Networking (TSN).
• Proficiency in Earned Value Management (EVM) and standard project management tools.
• Experience applying lean principles such as FLIGHT DECK or Kaizen to drive improvement through Daily Management, Problem Solving, and Standard Work.
• Knowledge of engineering processes including requirements definition, allocation, validation, verification, and integration; embedded software; electronic systems; qualification testing; FAA/EASA certification; and system safety.
• Experience planning and launching complex development projects and establishing project management infrastructure.
• Project estimation and bidding experience.
• Ability to lead effectively in a highly technical, matrixed environment.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with customers and senior stakeholders.
• Strong quality mindset w