Program Manager

Executive Recruiting Group•San Luis Obispo, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on senior individual contributor based on-site in SLO to drive 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 means resolving blockers promptly, securing timely decisions and helping teams meet milestones through active on-site coordination. The role leads through influence and has no direct reports or PMO team management responsibilities. Under existing PMO leadership, the position works alongside the Program Manager and project coordination team. PMO leadership, in alignment with SLO project leadership, defines the execution scope, priorities, delegated authority and escalation thresholds. Within that framework, the role is expected to take initiative and resolve routine on-site execution issues. Responsibilities include developing and driving procurement milestone plans with Engineering and Procurement; preparing Steering Committee inputs and supporting leadership decisions; resolving cross-functional coordination and interface issues; managing assigned schedules, actions, risks and opportunities; and leading working-level integration and maintenance of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The position connects engineering releases, procurement, build, integration and test through realistic dependencies, clear owners and completion criteria. 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.
10+ years 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 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, with the ability to maintain reliable shared data with minimal administrative overhead.

Responsibilities

Develop and drive a procurement milestone plan jointly with Engineering and Procurement, assigning owners and deadlines for RFP completion, technical evaluation, supplier selection, contracting, delivery and acceptance.
Agree critical need dates and decision deadlines based on build and test milestones; resolve coordination gaps and follow up with responsible owners. Supplier negotiations and purchasing commitments remain with Procurement and authorized 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 agreed decisions and actions through established channels while respecting confidentiality requirements.
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 recovery actions with affected teams when delays arise, implement actions 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; escalate issues beyond authority with their impact, a recommendation and the latest date a decision is needed, without waiting for the next scheduled review.
Lead working-level integration and maintenance of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for the rapid aircraft prototyping program 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 and emerging delays visible; obtain approval from the designated owner for changes to the approved schedule baseline.
Support the Program Manager and US–Japan stakeholders in maintaining a high-level transition schedule for type-certification aircraft development, linked to the IMS.