Lead Program Manager, Space Electronics

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV is seeking a Lead Program Manager to own and grow a satellite electronics product line within the Space Technologies Division. This role will lead the transition of a prototype into low-rate initial production (LRIP) and manage the product through delivery and continued lifecycle development.

The ideal candidate is experienced managing manufactured products, cross-functional teams, customer requirements, supply chains, and production schedules in an aerospace or technical environment.

Position Responsibilities

• Own the flight computer product line from prototype transition through production and customer delivery.
• Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, test, supply chain, quality, contracts, and finance.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedules, milestones, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Partner with manufacturing and test teams to resolve issues and maintain delivery commitments.
• Work directly with customers to understand forecasts, requirements, priorities, and delivery expectations.
• Translate customer demand into internal production and material plans.
• Partner with supply chain and material management to ensure component availability and supplier performance.
• Lead proposal development, including pricing, schedule, scope, and risk considerations.
• Support contract negotiations related to cost, schedule, and program risk.
• Facilitate product risk management and issue resolution.
• Coordinate configuration management and product-related deliverables.
• Define team roles, responsibilities, accountability, and decision authority.
• Track execution, communicate status, and provide clear reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage assigned personnel, facilities, budgets, and schedules to meet program commitments.
• Apply recognized project management standards, including PMBOK, ANSI, and ISO practices.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration, systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 8 years of experience as a project or program manager in aerospace, electronics manufacturing, or another technical industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing a manufactured product or product line.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and transitioning products into production.
• Strong knowledge of the full product and project lifecycle, including:
  • Requirements definition
  • Proposal development and negotiation
  • Product development
  • Production implementation
  • Customer delivery
  • Lifecycle management
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage resources across an organization.
• Strong knowledge of project management principles, schedules, metrics, risks, budgets, and customer commitments.
• Excellent written, verbal, and customer-facing communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Master’s degree in project management, business administration, systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 10 years of relevant program or project management experience.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience managing electronics manufacturing or a manufacturing laboratory.
• Experience taking a prototype or development product into LRIP or full-rate production.
• Experience owning a product line across its complete lifecycle.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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

Why This Role Matters

This position will serve as the primary owner for a new space electronics product line. Success requires someone who can connect customer needs to internal execution, establish production readiness, manage risk and supply constraints, and ensure the product is delivered reliably and competitively.

Clearance Level

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

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, 401(k) with company matching, and flexible work schedule options. Depending on your business unit, role, and customer contract requirements, select programs may offer a 9/80 work schedule and 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