Senior Manager, Program Control

AV; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 148,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV is seeking a Sr. Manager, Program Control to lead program control across aerospace projects, ensuring budget adherence and on-time delivery while upholding stringent quality standards.

You will guide a team, collaborate with engineering, finance, and project management, and implement best practices in scheduling, cost control, and performance monitoring. The role requires strategic leadership, a strong track record in program controls, and the ability to translate data into actionable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required or equivalent
• Advanced degree (MBA or MS) is highly preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience
• Minimum of 4 years in a leadership role

Responsibilities

• Delegating responsibilities and supervising business operations
• Hiring, training, motivating and coaching employees
• Resolving conflicts or complaints from customers and employees
• Analyzing information and processes to improve efficiency
• Generating reports and presenting to upper-level managers
• Ensuring staff follow company policies and procedures
• Other duties to ensure business health and success
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic leadership

Vision to adapt decisions

Inspirational leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree (MBA/MS)

10 years of relevant experience

4 years in leadership

Job description

Job Description

The Sr. Manager, Program Control position requires a strategic leader who is proficient in program control methodologies and has a keen understanding of the complexities inherent within aerospace programs. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and managing the program controls function, ensuring that all projects are executed within budget and timeline constraints while meeting our rigorous quality standards. As a Sr. Manager, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, finance, and project management, to provide critical insights and data-driven recommendations that will shape our operational strategies. Your leadership will be vital in guiding your team to implement best practices in program scheduling, cost control, and performance monitoring.

Worker Type

Regular

Summary

The Sr. Manager, Program Control position requires a strategic leader who is proficient in program control methodologies and has a keen understanding of the complexities inherent within aerospace programs. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and managing the program controls function, ensuring that all projects are executed within budget and timeline constraints while meeting our rigorous quality standards. As a Sr. Manager, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, finance, and project management, to provide critical insights and data-driven recommendations that will shape our operational strategies. Your leadership will be vital in guiding your team to implement best practices in program scheduling, cost control, and performance monitoring.

Position Responsibilities

• Delegating responsibilities and supervising business operations
• Hiring, training, motivating and coaching employees as they provide attentive, efficient service to customers, assessing employee performance and providing helpful feedback and training opportunities.
• Resolving conflicts or complaints from customers and employees.
• Analyzing information and processes and developing more effective or efficient processes and strategies.
• Generating reports and presenting information to upper-level managers or other parties.
• Ensuring staff members follow company policies and procedures.
• Other duties to ensure the overall health and success of the business.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Advanced degree, MBA or MS is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in a leadership role.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively
• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks
• 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 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

The Salary Range For This Role Is

$147,500 - $225,000

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 don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible.

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. Citizenship required