Sr. Program Manager

Aitech • Los Angeles, CA

26d • Onsite

About The Position

Aitech Defense Systems is renowned for its innovation in rugged embedded systems, designed to operate reliably in the challenging environments of military, defense, aerospace, and space applications. Founded in 1983, Aitech has a rich history of pioneering advancements such as the world’s first conduction-cooled MIL-SPEC VMEbus board and has continually evolved its product line to include state-of-the-art SBCs, GPGPU-based AI applications, and advanced cybersecurity for mission-critical systems. Joining us means you’ll be working at the forefront of technology with projects that span across land, sea, air, and space, supporting some of the top prime contractors in the industry. This opportunity will allow you to contribute to groundbreaking projects and push the boundaries of embedded computing technology. Reports To: Part of Program Execution Office reporting to Chief Delivery Officer. Role Overview: The Programs Manager will lead the Integrated Product Team (IPT) and drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, firmware, software, test, quality, and supply chain teams. This role owns program schedule and cost management, serves as the central authority for internal and external customer relationships, and ensures program performance through proactive metrics tracking, risk management, and reporting. The role also interfaces with Business Development (BD) to integrate customer requirements and proposals into program execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.
• Minimum of 10 years of related experience in the Defense and Aerospace sector.
• Experience serving as a principal point of contact for key military and commercial customers.
• Demonstrated experience in customer communications, negotiations, and proposal management.
• Proven ability to lead IPTs, manage matrixed teams, and interface with BD and customers.
• Demonstrated ability managing EAC, VAC, PMRs, schedule, cost, and customer-facing program communications.
• Strong understanding of engineering development processes, complex system integration, and program management principles.
• Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously and meet aggressive timelines.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with program management tools (MS Project, JIRA, or similar).

Nice To Haves

• PMP certification or MBA is desirable.
• Experience with defense/aerospace standards (DoD, MIL-STD, space-rated systems).
• Knowledge of AI/GPGPU-enabled embedded systems.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar development programs with matrixed, cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Integrated Product Team (IPT), coordinating multi-disciplinary teams within a matrixed organization across Engineering, Firmware, Software, Test, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product Management.
• Take ownership of program schedules and cost management, establishing baselines for planned cost, design configuration, and schedule during program and proposal kick-off meetings.
• Maintain accurate Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Variance at Completion (VAC) metrics; proactively implement corrective actions for deviations.
• Establish and track program metrics to monitor performance, progress, and anticipate potential issues.
• Prepare for, lead, and follow up on Program Management Reviews (PMRs) with internal leadership and external customers.
• Serve as primary interface to Business Development (BD) for program capture, proposal support, and customer engagement.
• Act as a central authority for the Company in its relationship with internal and external customers.
• Represent the program in customer meetings, capturing the Customer Voice and integrating feedback into program planning.
• Develop and implement contingency plans for identified risks, establishing deployment criteria to proactively resolve potential problems.
• Ensure pertinent written records are maintained documenting all agreements, commitments, and program decisions.
• Define program schedules, milestones, budgets, and resource allocations; monitor progress and enforce accountability.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in program management processes, documentation, and reporting.
• Possess knowledge of the architecture and implementation of complex integrated systems for Defense and Aerospace, including hardware development, integration, and test requirements.
• Prepare program status reports, executive briefings, and dashboards for leadership and stakeholders.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly strategic planning, plan execution, and technology roadmap updates.
• Keep team members focused on schedule milestones and objectives, motivating them to develop cost-effective, customer-oriented solutions.

Benefits

• Lead high-impact programs and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) supporting aerospace, defense, and space missions.
• Directly interface with customers and BD teams to shape program strategy and execution.
• Take full ownership of program schedule, cost, risk management, and performance metrics.
• Work onsite in a collaborative, innovative environment with opportunities for career growth.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees