Senior Leader, Mission Programs

Blue Signal Search; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Competitive paid time off

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is seeking an experienced aerospace program leader to oversee complex customer programs, drive financial performance, and deliver results across engineering, operations, and supply chain.

This high-visibility role entails direct engagement with customers, cross-functional leadership in a matrixed organization, and significant opportunity to influence strategy, planning, and growth.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within aerospace, defense, space, or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience overseeing complex technical programs and customer relationships.
• Strong financial, commercial, and operational business acumen.
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams within a matrixed organization.
• Excellent executive communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Undergraduate degree or comparable academic background; graduate education is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex aerospace programs with accountability for financial performance and delivery.
• Build senior customer relationships and align internal teams around program priorities.
• Guide cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and finance.
• Identify execution risks, establish recovery actions, and drive accountability.
• Support business planning, forecasting, and growth initiatives.
• Improve program processes and overall operating performance.

Skills

Aerospace leadership

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Matrix organization

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree a plus

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced aerospace program leader to oversee complex customer programs and drive strong business and operational results. This high visibility role offers broad cross-functional influence, direct customer engagement, and meaningful opportunity to support continued organizational growth.

This Role Offers:

• High visibility leadership role with broad program ownership.
• Direct engagement with key customers and senior business leaders.
• Collaboration across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and finance.
• Strong career growth potential within an established aerospace organization.
• Potential relocation assistance and competitive paid time off.

Focus:

• Lead complex aerospace programs with accountability for financial performance and delivery.
• Build senior customer relationships and align internal teams around program priorities.
• Guide cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and finance.
• Identify execution risks, establish recovery actions, and drive accountability.
• Support business planning, forecasting, and growth initiatives.
• Improve program processes and overall operating performance.

Skill Set:

• Significant leadership experience within aerospace, defense, space, or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience overseeing complex technical programs and customer relationships.
• Strong financial, commercial, and operational business acumen.
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams within a matrixed organization.
• Excellent executive communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Undergraduate degree or comparable academic background expected, graduate education is a plus.