Program Manager

Executive Recruiting Group•San Luis Obispo, CA

8d•$170,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

This hands-on senior individual-contributor role is based on-site in SLO and drives day-to-day execution of a rapid aircraft prototyping program. The role works directly with engineering, procurement, manufacturing, integration, and test teams to remove blockers, accelerate decisions, and deliver agreed milestones as requirements and configurations evolve. Success involves resolving blockers promptly, securing timely decisions, and helping teams meet milestones through active on-site coordination. The position leads through influence and has no direct reports or PMO team-management responsibilities. Working under existing PMO leadership and alongside the Program Manager and project coordination team, the role operates within an execution scope, priorities, delegated authority, and escalation thresholds defined by PMO leadership in alignment with SLO project leadership. The role is expected to take initiative and resolve routine on-site execution issues within that framework. The position coordinates procurement milestones with Engineering and Procurement; prepares Steering Committee inputs with the Program Manager; collaborates with on-site functional leads to address coordination, interface, risk, and readiness issues; and proactively manages assigned schedules, actions, risks, and opportunities. It leads working-level integration and maintenance of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), linking engineering releases, procurement, build, integration, and test. The Program Manager retains overall program planning and reporting responsibility, while functional leads remain accountable for their teams’ commitments and deliverables. The role also supports the Program Manager and US–Japan stakeholders in maintaining a high-level transition schedule for type-certification aircraft development linked to the IMS.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
At least 10 years of experience in aerospace or complex hardware development programs.
At least 3 years of hands-on execution coordination across engineering, procurement, build, integration, and test in physical prototype programs.
Working understanding of aircraft development, configuration control, verification, and test-readiness practices.
Ability to support prototype scope tailoring with technical and safety owners while preserving agreed safety requirements.
Strong influencing and facilitation skills, including the ability to constructively challenge unclear commitments and secure action without line authority.
Practical technical literacy across aircraft systems and their interfaces, with the ability to identify schedule effects of design, software, hardware, and configuration changes.
Hands-on experience with IMS development, critical-path analysis, risk and action management, procurement milestone planning, and recovery planning.
Ability to balance speed, scope, cost, and resources, and to propose sequencing, COTS, or alternate verification options for technical-owner review.
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and a scheduling tool such as Microsoft Project.

Nice To Haves

Certification program experience.
PLM/ERP familiarity.

Responsibilities

Develop and drive a procurement milestone plan jointly with Engineering and Procurement, including owners and deadlines for RFP completion, technical evaluation, supplier selection, contracting, delivery, and acceptance.
Agree critical procurement need dates and decision deadlines based on build and test milestones, resolve coordination gaps, and follow up with responsible owners.
Prepare concise weekly Steering Committee inputs with the Program Manager covering milestones, forecast dates, risks, and schedule impacts.
Gather technical and commercial inputs and present options, recommendations, decision owners, and deadlines; align stakeholders before meetings and communicate decisions and actions through established channels while respecting confidentiality.
Work with on-site functional leads to resolve coordination and interface issues within agreed program priorities.
Coordinate design-review inputs and readiness criteria defined by technical owners.
Track risks, confirm mitigation status with responsible owners, and drive action closure.
Develop and implement recovery actions with affected teams when delays arise, within delegated authority, and promptly escalate unresolved trade-offs.
Proactively manage assigned schedules, actions, risks, and opportunities with the existing PM team using shared processes.
Identify blockers through regular on-site engagement, initiate working sessions, agree owners and deadlines, resolve routine execution issues within delegated authority, and follow through to completion.
Recommend priority or resource changes when needed and escalate issues beyond delegated authority with their impact, a recommendation, and the latest date a decision is needed.
Lead working-level integration and maintenance of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) in coordination with the Program Manager, using one shared PM system.
Connect engineering releases, procurement, build, integration, and test through realistic dependencies, clear owners, and completion criteria.
Review critical-path risks and recovery options weekly, obtain schedule updates from functional leads at least every two weeks, and promptly assess significant changes.
Keep forecasts current, make emerging delays visible, and ensure changes to the approved schedule baseline receive approval from the designated owner.
Support the Program Manager and US–Japan stakeholders in maintaining a high-level transition schedule for type-certification aircraft development linked to the IMS.