Senior Material Program Manager

AeroVironment • Albuquerque, NM

2d

About The Position

AeroVironment is seeking a highly experienced Senior Material Program Manager to support the Directed Energy (DE) Business Unit, responsible for leading material strategy, supply chain execution, subcontractor performance, and lifecycle logistics across a portfolio of advanced high-energy laser weapon systems. This role ensures the timely, cost-effective, and compliant delivery of critical hardware supporting development, production, fielding, and sustainment of AV’s LOCUST family of Directed Energy systems and related electro-optical, beam control, and tracking technologies. The Senior Material Program Manager will serve as a key leader within Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), directly overseeing major subcontractors and suppliers while ensuring material readiness aligns with aggressive customer schedules, including U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and other national security customers. This individual will play a critical role in scaling Directed Energy production capabilities while ensuring financial discipline, subcontractor execution, and program schedule adherence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience supporting material management, supply chain, subcontract management, or program execution in defense, aerospace, or complex hardware programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing major subcontractors and supplier performance.
• Experience supporting DoD development and production programs.
• Experience with program financial tracking, EAC development, and cost management.
• Strong understanding of defense acquisition, configuration management, and quality systems.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently (20–40%) to supplier sites and program locations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting Directed Energy, EO/IR systems, laser systems, sensors, or precision tracking systems.
• Experience supporting U.S. Army or other DoD rapid acquisition or production programs.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM).
• PMP certification or equivalent program management training.
• Experience supporting production ramp and manufacturing scale-up efforts.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP, Costpoint, or Oracle.

Responsibilities

• Lead material planning and execution across multiple Directed Energy programs from development through production and sustainment.
• Serve as the material lead within Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), ensuring alignment with program cost, schedule, and technical baselines.
• Develop and execute program-specific material strategies supporting rapid prototyping, low-rate initial production (LRIP), and full-rate production.
• Ensure material readiness for system integration, system test events, and customer deliveries.
• Maintain direct oversight of all major subcontractors and critical suppliers, ensuring performance aligns with contractual cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Serve as AV’s primary interface with key subcontractors delivering laser subsystems, optics, electro-optical tracking systems, precision mechanical assemblies, and mission-critical electronics.
• Conduct regular on-site visits, supplier audits, and program execution reviews to assess production readiness, schedule adherence, quality, and risk.
• Lead subcontractor performance reviews, corrective action plans, and recovery strategies when required.
• Support subcontract negotiations, statements of work, and technical performance requirements in coordination with Contracts and Supply Chain teams.
• Ensure subcontractors are prepared for major program milestones including PDR, CDR, PRR, TRR, and delivery events.
• Conduct monthly financial reviews of material and subcontract performance, including Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) validation and variance analysis.
• Track material and subcontract costs against program budgets, identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM), program forecasting, and financial reporting processes.
• Provide detailed cost, schedule, and materiel readiness briefings to program leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement commitments and expenditures align with program cash flow and financial plans.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing to secure critical components including optics, laser modules, beam directors, sensors, and electronic assemblies.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including long-lead components, single-source suppliers, and obsolescence.
• Support supplier selection, qualification, and performance monitoring.
• Support transition from prototype to production, including material planning, production ramp-up, and factory readiness.
• Coordinate closely with Manufacturing and Production teams to ensure uninterrupted production flow.
• Support Production Readiness Reviews (PRRs), manufacturing readiness activities, and production scaling efforts.
• Ensure material supports configuration-controlled builds and meets contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Support DCMA audits, customer reviews, and internal quality audits.
• Ensure compliance with AeroVironment policies and DoD acquisition requirements.
• Support material planning for deployed systems, spares provisioning, and sustainment readiness.
• Assist with lifecycle sustainment planning and deployed system support 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level