Sr. Program Manager - Aerospace & Defense

Watlow • St. Louis, MO

6d • Onsite

About The Position

At Watlow's Global Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, we combine a rich legacy with forward-thinking innovation. Founded in 1922 in the heart of St. Louis, Watlow has grown from a small heating element manufacturer into a global leader in thermal systems. Our headquarters is more than just an office, it's a hub for collaboration, advanced engineering, and customer focused solutions. #PoweredByPossibility We are hiring a: Sr. Program Manager – Aerospace & Defense (A&D) St. Louis, MO (Onsite) Watlow is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Sr. Program Manager to serve as the critical internal link between our Aerospace & Defense (A&D) commercial sales team and our manufacturing, engineering, quality, and operations functions. This factory-based role owns the full program lifecycle for A&D accounts, from business case development through contract execution, compliance management, and delivery, ensuring Watlow can successfully compete and deliver in a highly regulated, technically complex market. You will build credibility with both customer-facing commercial teams and the internal teams that deliver the work, directly influencing execution from within Watlow's operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace and defense, industrial manufacturing, technical sales, program management, or account management
• Proven track record of developing customer relationships and growing business within complex technical environments
• Strong project and program management skills, with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities
• Ability to travel up to 30-50% as required

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting aerospace OEMs, defense contractors, or Tier 1 suppliers
• Knowledge of aerospace and defense quality systems and standards (AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, DFARS, etc.)
• Experience with thermal systems, sensors, controls, industrial components, or engineered manufacturing solutions
• PMP certification, MBA, or advanced technical degree

Responsibilities

• Partner with the A&D commercial sales team to develop business cases, multi-year program strategies, and go/no-go recommendations, providing feasibility and manufacturing readiness input on new opportunities with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and defense contractors.
• Own end-to-end program management for all active A&D accounts, from initial order entry through production, delivery, and ongoing program support.
• Manage all aerospace and defense compliance requirements, including AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, and DFARS, ensuring internal teams understand and can meet customer and regulatory obligations.
• Serve as the primary point of coordination across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, IT, and customer service, pulling together the right resources and removing barriers to program execution.
• Act as the voice of the customer inside Watlow's factory and functional teams, participating in customer visits, site audits, and technical reviews alongside the commercial lead to build long-term customer confidence.
• Maintain awareness of aerospace and defense industry trends and regulatory requirements, and provide market intelligence and customer insights to leadership and product development teams.

What This Job Offers

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