Senior Program Manager, Production & Manufacturing - NGCM

AeroVironment; Huntsville (AL); Presencial; USD 130.000 - 190.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

AeroVironment is seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead the NGCM production transition from prototype through initial and full-rate production. You will establish and execute the manufacturing strategy, build production capability, and align internal operations and key suppliers to meet program cost, schedule, quality, and capacity requirements.

This hands-on leadership role requires strong factory execution experience and the ability to translate development hardware into a

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• Ten+ years aerospace/defense manufacturing experience, including leadership of complex hardware production.
• Proven track record leading programs from prototype to repeatable production with increasing delivery rates.
• Experience establishing production readiness, processes, tooling, staffing, and supplier capacity.

Responsabilidades

• Own the transition to production.
• Develop and execute a production transition plan covering facilities, equipment, tooling, staffing, materials, suppliers, quality, and testing.
• Establish entry/exit criteria for prototype builds, pilot, initial and full-rate production.
• Lead manufacturing readiness assessments and production readiness reviews; close actions before delivery commitments are affected.
• Integrate production milestones, material availability, and capacity into the program's schedule.
• Lead development of production flows, assembly planning, work instructions, tooling, test equipment, and workforce training.
• Partner with engineering to improve producibility, assembly efficiency, and affordability.
• Establish controlled build processes, product traceability, and management of engineering changes.
• Define handoff from development to production execution.

Conocimientos

Program management

Manufacturing leadership

Supply chain

ERP/MRP

Cost control

Stakeholder communication

Educación

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Herramientas

ERP/MRP systems

Descripción del empleo

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Senior Program Manager, Production & Manufacturing - NGCM

Position Summary

AeroVironment is seeking an experienced production and manufacturing leader to lead the Next Generation Counter-UAS Missile (NGCM) program's transition from prototype development through initial production and full-rate production. This leader will establish and execute the manufacturing strategy, build production capability, and align internal operations and critical suppliers to deliver against program cost, schedule, quality, and capacity requirements. The successful candidate will have personally led complex defense hardware programs through the challenges of production transition, including evolving designs, supplier constraints, manufacturing readiness, and increasing delivery commitments. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong factory execution experience and the ability to translate development hardware into a repeatable, scalable, and affordable production system.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own the transition to production
• Develop and execute an integrated production transition plan covering manufacturing readiness, facilities, equipment, tooling, staffing, materials, suppliers, quality, and acceptance testing.
• Establish measurable entry and exit criteria for prototype builds, pilot production, initial production, and full-rate production.
• Lead manufacturing readiness assessments and production readiness reviews; assign and close actions before they affect delivery commitments.
• Integrate production milestones, material availability, and capacity constraints into the program's integrated master schedule.
• Establish repeatable manufacturing operations
• Lead the development of production flows, assembly planning, work instructions, tooling, test equipment, and workforce training.
• Partner with engineering to improve producibility, assembly efficiency, testability, and affordability.
• Establish configuration-controlled build processes, product traceability, and disciplined incorporation of engineering changes.
• Define the handoff from engineering-led development builds to manufacturing-led production execution.
• Ensure production plans incorporate applicable safety, handling, and facility requirements.
• Build supplier and capacity readiness
• Partner with supply chain, subcontracts, engineering, and quality to assess critical supplier readiness and delivery performance.
• Validate supplier capacity, long-lead material requirements, tooling readiness, and recovery plans.
• Develop make-or-buy recommendations and identify alternate sources or internal capability needs.
• Build phased capacity plans supported by equipment, labor, floor space, test throughput, capital investment, and supplier commitments.
• Deliver production performance
• Own manufacturing execution against approved delivery schedules, budgets, and quality objectives.
• Establish production metrics covering throughput, first-pass yield, rework, scrap, labor efficiency, material shortages, and on-time delivery.
• Lead resolution of manufacturing issues and coordinate corrective actions across engineering, quality, suppliers, and operations.
• Develop recurring unit-cost estimates and execute cost-reduction initiatives as production volume increases.
• Provide clear production status, risks, recovery actions, and investment recommendations to program and executive leadership.
• Build the production team
• Define the manufacturing organization, staffing plan, and skill requirements needed for each production phase.
• Lead and develop manufacturing engineers, production supervisors, planners, technicians, and other assigned personnel.
• Establish clear accountability across program management, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain.
• Build a culture of safety, quality, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Ten or more years of relevant aerospace or defense manufacturing experience, including leadership of complex hardware production.
• Demonstrated success personally leading at least one program from prototype or engineering development into repeatable production with increasing delivery rates.
• Experience establishing production readiness, manufacturing processes, tooling, staffing, and supplier capacity.
• Experience managing production schedules, manufacturing budgets, recurring unit costs, and capital requirements.
• Working knowledge of configuration management, engineering change control, material planning, ERP/MRP systems, and production quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve production constraints across engineering, supply chain, quality, and program management.
• Strong communication skills and experience presenting production performance, risks, and recovery plans to senior leaders.
• Ability to travel to suppliers, manufacturing faci