The salary range for this role is: $101,000 - $154,000
Employment
full time
Employer job description
From AeroVironment's posting. “We” and “our” refer to the employer.
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
AV is seeking an RF Mission Systems (RFMS) Senior Program Manager with strong leadership abilities, excellent engineering skills, and extensive experience in product innovation and technical execution. This position requires experience in developing strong customer relationships and fulfilling deliverables therefore positioning the RFMS team for future growth. The candidate should have a strong technical and project management background and knowledge in the design and development of complex phased array systems is a plus.
The Senior Program Manager is intended to support AV's BADGER product (RFMS portfolio). The ideal candidate will be a competent, self-starting individual, who has strong interpersonal, communication and time management skills. Success in this position requires a strategic thinker with strong organizational skills and attention to detail. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of production processes to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Operations/Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance to drive efficiency and optimize production schedules.
Position Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Stakeholder Management
Senior Program Manager will be responsible developing project plans, schedules, and budgets
Manage and lead production programs from inception to completion
Monitor project progress, milestones, and deliverables, identifying potential risks and implementing mitigation strategies
Establish and maintain effective communication channels with customers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders such as PM Team, IPT Leads, Group Leads, Contracts, Subcontracts, Finance, Purchasing, and Human Resources
Coordinate regular meetings and progress updates with the PM Team, IPT Leads, Group Leads, and other staff to ensure alignment and address any concerns or open action items
Coordinate with Engineering teams to ensure smooth transition of products from design to manufacturing
Monitor production metrics and KPIs, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency and reduce costs
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards throughout the production process
Manage stakeholder expectations and address their needs throughout the project lifecycle
Identify opportunities for process improvement, efficiency enhancements, and lessons learned
Participate in post-project reviews and implement corrective actions as required to enhance project performance and outcomes
Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in RF systems and project management
Budget and Resource Management
Monitoring project budgets, expenditures, and financial forecasts for RF Mission Systems' BADGER product and IRAD Budgets
Coordinate resource allocation and optimization in collaboration with the PM Team, IPT Leads, Group Leads, and other staff members
Collaborate with finance and procurement teams to ensure timely procurement of project materials and services related to RF systems
Contract Management
Perform contract administration specific to RF Mission Systems, including reviewing contract terms, monitoring deliverables, and managing contract modifications
Collaborate with the legal and procurement teams to address contractual issues, ensure program compliance and avoid scope creep
Bachelor's degree in relevant STEM discipline or Program Management discipline
Minimum 8+ years of relevant experience managing technical programs with a budget of $20M or greater
Experience with developing and presenting schedule, financial and/or technical briefings
Knowledge of production planning and scheduling techniques
Exemplary evidence of effective communication; both verbally and in writing
Experience with/understanding of DoD contracting and acquisition process
Ability to effectively handle variety of situations and problems that may arise - sometimes several at once - and solve them, work with those involved to come to cooperative solutions, while understanding time and budget constraints
Proven ability to perform under the stress of frequent interruptions and/or distractions
Skill in working, independently and at the direction of a manager; following through on assignments in a timely manner
Ability to prioritize, organize, and complete assignments efficiently and accurately, while adapting to shifting or competing work assignments and changes in workload volume
Must be proficient in Excel and PowerPoint
Ability to obtain and maintain a US Department of Defense Top-Secret SCI Clearance
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
MS or advanced degree in an engineering/program management field or equivalent industry experience
Minimum 10+ years of relevant experience managing technical programs with a budget $100M or greater
Experience with business intelligence reporting (e.g. PowerBI) and Microsoft Project preferred
Experience with Unanet ERP or similar
Experience with satellite ground systems is preferred
Ability to read and interpret technical specifications and requirements
TSI/SCI Clearance
Experience in assigning and delegating tasks to engineering teams, setting both long and short-term project goals as well as working alongside other engineers and technicians, approving designs and budgets, calculating costs, material, labor, and time required for each project, negotiating contracts with vendors and clients, executing plans safely and efficiently, ensuring that projects stay within time and budgetary restraints, and compiling reports and presenting information
Experience aiding with proposal development, contract negotiation, contract compliance and business development
Experience in Aerospace or with US Department of Defense
Active US Department of Defense Secret or Top-Secret Clearance preferred
Effectively manages multiple efforts simultaneously and give direction to the program team
Works independently with minimal supervision and completes assigned tasks within program schedule and budget
Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others and the company
Demonstrates effective organizational, problem-solving, analytical and interpersonal skills. Exhibits teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one’s own interests
Travel
Occasional overnight travel
Physical Demands
Ability to work in a hybrid environment
Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
Special Requirements
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
Clearance Level
No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$101,000 - $154,000
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.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
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 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
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