Sr. Program Manager - Aerospace & Defense

Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company in; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Watlow is seeking a Sr. Program Manager for Aerospace & Defense in St. Louis, MO. This role owns the full program lifecycle for A&D accounts, from business case development through contract execution and delivery, ensuring readiness and regulatory compliance.

The position requires strong cross-functional coordination across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, IT, and customer service, plus customer advocacy and market insights to guide leadership and product development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace and defense, industrial manufacturing, technical sales, program management, or account management.
• Strong project and program management skills, with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to travel up to 30-50% as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop business cases, multi-year program strategies, and go/no-go recommendations with OEMs and defense contractors.
• Own end-to-end program management for all active A&D accounts, from order entry through production and delivery.
• Manage all aerospace and defense compliance requirements (AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, DFARS).
• Coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, IT, and customer service.
• Act as the voice of the customer inside Watlow's factory and teams, including site audits and technical reviews.
• Provide market intelligence and customer insights to leadership and product development teams.

Skills

Program management

Communication

Negotiation

Presentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or related field

Job description

At Watlow's Global Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, we combine a rich legacy with forward-thinking innovation. Founded in 1922 in the heart of St. Louis, Watlow has grown from a small heating element manufacturer into a global leader in thermal systems. Our headquarters is more than just an office, it's a hub for collaboration, advanced engineering, and customer focused solutions.

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We are hiring a: Sr. Program Manager – Aerospace & Defense (A&D)

St. Louis, MO (Onsite)

Watlow is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Sr. Program Manager to serve as the critical internal link between our Aerospace & Defense (A&D) commercial sales team and our manufacturing, engineering, quality, and operations functions. This factory-based role owns the full program lifecycle for A&D accounts, from business case development through contract execution, compliance management, and delivery, ensuring Watlow can successfully compete and deliver in a highly regulated, technically complex market. You will build credibility with both customer-facing commercial teams and the internal teams that deliver the work, directly influencing execution from within Watlow's operations.

What you'll do:

• Business case & commercial support: Partner with the A&D commercial sales team to develop business cases, multi-year program strategies, and go/no-go recommendations, providing feasibility and manufacturing readiness input on new opportunities with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and defense contractors.
• Program ownership: Own end-to-end program management for all active A&D accounts, from initial order entry through production, delivery, and ongoing program support.
• Compliance management: Manage all aerospace and defense compliance requirements, including AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, and DFARS, ensuring internal teams understand and can meet customer and regulatory obligations.
• Cross-functional coordination: Serve as the primary point of coordination across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, IT, and customer service, pulling together the right resources and removing barriers to program execution.
• Customer engagement & advocacy: Act as the voice of the customer inside Watlow's factory and functional teams, participating in customer visits, site audits, and technical reviews alongside the commercial lead to build long-term customer confidence.
• Market & industry leadership: Maintain awareness of aerospace and defense industry trends and regulatory requirements, and provide market intelligence and customer insights to leadership and product development teams.

What you'll need to succeed?

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace and defense, industrial manufacturing, technical sales, program management, or account management
• Proven track record of developing customer relationships and growing business within complex technical environments
• Strong project and program management skills, with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities
• Ability to travel up to 30-50% as required

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience supporting aerospace OEMs, defense contractors, or Tier 1 suppliers
• Knowledge of aerospace and defense quality systems and standards (AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, DFARS, etc.)
• Experience with thermal systems, sensors, controls, industrial components, or engineered manufacturing solutionsPMP certification, MBA, or advanced technical degree