Senior Program Manager, Aerospace and Defense

Divergent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Compensation package

Paid time off

Health benefits

Growth opportunities

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Divergent is seeking a highly skilled Senior Program Manager to oversee aerospace & defense programs, including DoD engagements and scalable deployment of Divergent’s technologies. The role requires strong aerospace structures expertise, DoD process knowledge, and leadership across engineering, manufacturing, and customer teams.

The successful candidate will manage end-to-end program execution, identify risks, and shape strategic opportunities with defense primes while advancing the use of

Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance desired; Top Secret preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years in aerospace/defense program management.
• Strong aerospace structures background with FEA familiarity.
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing and robotic assembly systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with DoD acquisition cycles and FAR.
• Experience supporting airworthiness documentation with DoD FAA/AFTC.
• Experience with fast-iteration hardware prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Oversee aerospace & defense programs from inception to delivery.
• Guide cross-functional teams of engineering, manufacturing and customers.
• Set framework and analysis params for programmatic/technical risk trades.
• Draft proposals, statements of work, and track cost/schedule/performance.
• Monitor metrics and initiate corrective actions as needed.
• Develop program strategy across multiple customers and opportunities.
• Maintain relationships with defense primes, subcontractors and DoD stakeholders.

Skills

Program management

Clearance knowledge

Communication

A&D domain know‑how

Cross‑functional leadership

DoD procurement knowledge

Hardware prototyping

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEA software

Job description

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

We are seeking a highly-skilled and experienced Senior Program Manager to oversee Divergent’s aerospace and defense (A&D) efforts. As one of the early hires in the A&D division, this individual will own defense programs focused on deploying Divergent’s technology on new and legacy defense programs. This individual will also lead programs that focus on the expansion of Divergent’s capabilities enabling the utilization of DAPS™ for a broader set of defense applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in aerospace structures, with a particular emphasis on aerial defense systems such as unmanned aerial systems or missiles. The Senior/Principal Program Manager will be responsible for leading programs with defense primes and Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders to execute Divergent's programs efficiently and effectively.

The Role

• Manage all aspects of aerospace and defense programs, from inception to completion, ensuring on-time delivery of program deliverables and within cost, schedule, and performance requirements
• Lead cross-functional team by providing strategic technical guidance and programmatic constraints on cross-functional teams consisting of engineering, manufacturing, and customer personnel
• Set framework and analysis parameters with internal engineering teams and customer teams to characterize programmatic, technical, and risk trades
• Build and utilize Divergent program management tools, systems, and templates to draft proposals, write-up statements of work, and track program performance (cost, schedule, and performance)
• Monitor program performance against established metrics and milestones, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Formulate program strategy across a portfolio of customers, identifying new development opportunities, technology risks, and partnerships that Divergent should focus on
• Develop and maintain relationships with defense primes, subcontractors, and DoD stakeholders to facilitate program success and build new contracting opportunities

Basic Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance desired; Top Secret Clearance preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in program management within the aerospace and defense industry
• Strong technical background in aerospace structures programs, including familiarity with basic structural analysis tools such as finite element analysis (FEA)
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing applications and robotic assembly systems
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence both internal and external stakeholders
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex programs with multiple stakeholders and dependencies
• Experience with DoD acquisition cycles and federal acquisition regulations (FAR)
• Experience supporting analysis and completing documentations for airworthiness certifications. Experience engaging directly with DoD airworthiness stakeholders such as the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Experience with fast iteration hardware prototyping programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Previous experience in technical leadership positions such as Chief Engineer or Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead is preferred
• PMP certification or equivalent is preferred

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels S05 - S07 as evaluated through our interview process.

• Senior / S05: $134,640 - $185,130
• Lead / S06: $155,540 - $213,840
• Principal / S07: $179,630 - $247,005

Pay Range: $134,640 USD - $247,005 USD

What We Offer:

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected.

E-Verify: Right to Work

Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.

Eligibility to Work Poster (English) | Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)

Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.