Principal Program Manager

About the CompanyWe are seeking three elite Principal Program Managers to lead the full lifecycle development of next-generation Surveillance systems within the Avionics Division of an avionics partner. These positions are located in Phoenix and Grand Rapids and are on-site, senior individual-contributor and cross-functional leadership roles designed for seasoned development program managers who have delivered complex, safety-critical avionics programs from concept through certification and into production. The successful candidates will own program strategy, cost, schedule, and technical performance for multiple concurrent avionics development efforts while serving as the primary interface to executive leadership, government customers, and strategic partners.About the RoleKey responsibilities include program leadership, governance, avionics development program execution, stakeholder and customer engagement, and talent, culture, and continuous improvement.ResponsibilitiesProgram Leadership & GovernanceOwn end-to-end program management for avionics development programs with budgets exceeding $50M, encompassing IRAD, CRAD, and customer-funded efforts.Establish and maintain Integrated Master Plans (IMP) and Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) spanning hardware, software, systems engineering, and certification activities.Drive rigorous Earned Value Management (EVM) and cost-performance index (CPI/SPI) discipline across the program team; provide variance analyses and corrective action plans to senior leadership.Chair program-level reviews including PDR, CDR, TRR, and FCA/PCA; prepare and present material to executive and customer review boards.Identify, assess, and retire program risks and opportunities through a structured RAID log process; own risk burn-down to acceptable thresholds before major program milestones.Avionics Development Program Execution will include:Direct the development of integrated Surveillance systems — through full DO-178C / DO-254 / ARP4754A / ARP4761 development lifecycles.Partner with Chief Engineers and Systems Architects to decompose top-level requirements, establish hardware/software interface control documents (ICDs), and manage requirements traceability through DOORS or equivalent.Coordinate across avionics hardware, embedded software (RTOS/BSP), systems engineering, test & verification, and airworthiness teams to ensure integrated program execution.Oversee supplier and subcontractor performance; negotiate Statements of Work, conduct supplier reviews, and manage make/buy decisions with supply chain stakeholders.Lead certification program planning in coordination with FAA DERs, EASA DOA, and military airworthiness authorities (AFAA, NAVAIR) as applicable.Stakeholder & Customer EngagementServe as primary program interface to OEM, government, and defense customers; maintain trusted, transparent relationships at all levels.Lead customer-facing program reviews, IPTs (Integrated Product Teams), and technical interchange meetings (TIMs) with clear, data-driven briefings.Support business development activities including proposal development, should-cost analyses, BOE (Basis of Estimate) reviews, and gate reviews.Coordinate with contracts, legal, and export compliance teams to ensure program activities meet FAR/DFARS, ITAR, and EAR requirements.Talent, Culture & Continuous ImprovementMentor junior and mid-level program managers;Champion continuous improvement initiatives including lean program management, Agile/hybrid development methodologies, and digital engineering adoption.Contribute to department-level process improvement efforts; author and refine program management standards, templates, and playbooks.QualificationsEducationBachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline from an accredited institution.Master's degree or MBA strongly preferred.Experience15+ years of progressive program management experience in aerospace, defense, or aviation, with a minimum of 10 years directly managing avionics or embedded systems development programs.Demonstrated track record of delivering programs ≥$25M on cost and schedule through major program milestones (PDR, CDR, first flight, certification).Deep operational familiarity with DO-178C (DAL A/B), DO-254 (DAL A/B), ARP4754A, and ARP4761 development and certification processes.Hands-on experience with EVMS (ANSI-748 compliant) on government or large commercial programs.Proven experience managing integrated hardware/software avionics development teams of 50+ personnel across multiple functional disciplines.Experience with FAA Part 23/25 or MIL-HDBK-516 airworthiness certification programs.Required SkillsExpert-level proficiency in integrated master scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera P6, Deltek Cobra, or equivalent).Mastery of requirements management tools (IBM DOORS, Jama, or equivalent) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) frameworks.Exceptional ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic data into executive-level decision briefs under time pressure.Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder alignment capabilities across matrixed organizational structures.Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR and export compliance obligations in aerospace programs.Active Secret security clearance (US citizenship required).Preferred SkillsPMP, PgMP, or DAU Program Management Level III certification.Experience with next-generation avionics programs including synthetic vision, ADS-B, TCAS II, multimode receiver (MMR), or ARINC 664/AFDX architectures.Familiarity with Agile/SAFe development methodologies applied to avionics safety-critical software.Familiarity with digital engineering frameworks (SysML v2, Cameo, Capella) and model-based program management approaches.Graduate-level coursework or certification in systems safety, reliability engineering, or human factors as applied to avionics.Experience in a dual-use (civil + military) avionics development environment.