Sr. Program Manager, Space Technologies

AeroVironment; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 80,500 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

401(k) with company matching

Job summary

AeroVironment in Albuquerque, NM, has an immediate opening for a Senior Technical Program Manager to support laser communications programs within the Space Technologies Business Unit. This full-time, on-site role requires coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver space hardware and to manage schedules, scope and budgets.

You will lead cross-functional activities, manage risk, ensure compliance with space and defense standards, and mentor team members.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of experience managing large-scale programs.
• Deep understanding of project management methodologies and risk management.
• Knowledge of the project lifecycle from requirements through completion.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with influence without authority.
• Proficiency with PM tools (Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint; Jira, GitLab).
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Willingness to travel (~20%).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to design and deliver hardware for space electronics programs.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities across engineering, systems, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, identifying critical paths and risks.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the team, product lead, and stakeholders.
• Oversee requirements definition, system architecture, design reviews, verification, and validation.
• Ensure compliance with space/defense standards and customer specifications.
• Perform project management activities per PMI/PMBOK/ANSI/ISO standards.
• Monitor performance and report status to management with metrics.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Microsoft Project

Jira

GitLab

Risk management

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Jira

GitLab

Microsoft Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Summary

AV has an immediate opening for a Senior Technical Program Manager to support laser communications programs within the Space Technologies Business Unit. AV provides a full suite of exquisite, space‑qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across LEO, MEO, GEO, and xGEO. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to AV when a mission can’t fail. This is a full‑time, on‑site position in Albuquerque, NM.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to successfully design and deliver hardware for space electronics programs.
• Coordinate cross‑functional activities across engineering, systems, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, identifying critical path activities and risk mitigation strategies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the team, product lead, and external/internal stakeholders.
• Oversee requirements definition, system architecture, design reviews, verification, and validation processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable space, aerospace, or defense standards and customer specifications.
• Perform project management activities in accordance with accepted project management standards in the industry (e.g., PMI, Project Management Body of Knowledge [PMBOK], ANSI, and ISO‑standards).
• Monitor performance and progress using appropriate tools and metrics to report status to management.
• Facilitate clear communication across all team members, ensuring effective collaboration and timely decision‑making.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure team members' responsibilities, accountability and authority are clearly documented and understood and individuals are executing to the plan.
• Support resource allocation, budget tracking and identify, document and manage project risks, issues and opportunities.
• Manage scope, schedule, and budget for assigned control accounts, negotiate scope of work.
• Develop, implement, and manage corrective actions at the activity level while maintaining baseline integrity.
• Establish, monitor and integrate change management processes and decisions.
• Facilitate negotiations involving major project parameters such as deliverable definition and performance objectives (e.g., cost, schedule, quality).
• All other relevant duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 8–12 years of experience managing large‑scale programs, with a proven track record in leading complex, multi‑million‑dollar programs.
• Deep understanding of project management methodologies, organizational change management principles, and developing risk management & mitigation plans.
• Knowledge of the Project Lifecycle from requirements definition, proposal preparation and negotiation and project implementation through to completion.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to navigate competing priorities and influence without direct authority.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and other program management tools (e.g., Jira, Gitlab, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to listen, assimilate, evaluate, and summarize. Sound ability to communicate with the customer at all levels.
• Strong initiative in defining, proposing, implementing, and communicating schedule metrics that support informed decision‑making.
• Some travel required (~20%).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment.
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard (Frequent).

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizen required.

Clearance Level

No Clearance.

Salary Range

$80,500 - $123,000

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, 401(k) 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.

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.

EEO Statement

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.