Program Manager

Ralliant

$95K — $115K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 4+ years of Program Management experience preferred; exceptional candidates with ~3 years of relevant experience may be considered.
  • Proven track record managing external customer relationships and high-visibility programs.
  • Experience overseeing multiple complex programs in fast-paced manufacturing environments.
  • Ability to handle tough customer conversations with credible recovery plans and prioritize effectively.
  • Familiarity with financial performance metrics like ETC/EAC and program forecasting; detailed finance knowledge is not mandatory.
  • Collaborative experience in supporting proposals, pricing activities, and contract negotiations with experts.
  • Capacity to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority and ensure accountability to goals.

Responsibilities

  • Manage daily execution of mature aerospace and defense programs as the main customer representative.
  • Handle multiple complex programs while balancing customer needs, schedules, and financial goals.
  • Communicate regularly with customers, leading tough discussions and planning recovery strategies as needed.
  • Make informed decisions swiftly, even with incomplete information, while escalating issues appropriately.
  • Oversee program financial performance, including P&L outcomes and corrective actions with Finance support.
  • Maintain accurate monthly bookings and order forecasts for programs under management.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on proposals and ensure all customer requirements are met in submissions.

Benefits

  • Flexible work hours outside standard schedule when necessary for customer needs.
  • Comprehensive engagement with Operations and factory floor for hands-on management.
  • Opportunity for a decisive role in a high-accountability environment with strong growth potential.
Full Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION

PacSci EMC, a Ralliant operating company, is seeking a Program Manager to own a broad portfolio of mature aerospace and defense programs supporting major customers and mission-critical applications. This role serves as the primary external customer-facing leader for assigned programs and is accountable for execution, customer confidence, financial performance, bookings, proposals, and cross-functional recovery actions. The successful candidate will be a decisive, hands-on program leader who actively engages with Operations and drives results across functions without direct authority.

Responsibilities
Own day-to-day execution for a broad portfolio of mature/production aerospace and defense programs while serving as the primary external customer-facing representative for PacSci EMC.
•Manage multiple complex programs simultaneously, balancing customer priorities, schedules, contractual commitments, financial objectives, risks, and operational constraints.
•    Maintain frequent customer communication, lead difficult execution conversations, communicate issues candidly with recovery or mitigation plans, and appropriately challenge requests when necessary.
•    Make informed, timely decisions with incomplete information and escalate issues appropriately to protect customer commitments and business results.
•    Own program financial performance and P&L outcomes, including working knowledge of estimate-to-complete (ETC), estimate-at-complete (EAC), forecasting, margins, and corrective actions, with support from Finance and Pricing.
•    Establish, report, and maintain monthly bookings and order forecasts for assigned programs.
   Partner with Pricing, Contracts, Finance, and other stakeholders on proposals; own program inputs, ensure customer and execution requirements are captured, participate in reviews and negotiations, and support required approvals and signatures. Program Manager will have ownership of proposal completeness with regard to customer requirements.
•    Generate and release program work authorization documentation defining scope, schedules, budgets, contractual requirements, and deliverables.
•    Assess Voice of Customer (VOC) feedback to understand the customer’s operational impact, urgency, and perception of PacSci performance; translate insights into recovery actions and sustaining-growth opportunities.
   Support organic growth by identifying customer needs and communicating viable business opportunities internally.
•    Prepare and present program reviews, customer updates, and executive-level presentations.
•    Influence and align Engineering, Manufacturing, Contracts, Procurement, Finance, Quality, Strategic Sourcing, and Business Development teams without direct authority.
•    Lead cross-functional recovery plans, drive accountability, and ensure customer commitments are achieved.
•    Maintain a visible, hands-on presence in Operations and on the factory floor to understand constraints, accelerate issue resolution, and drive execution; this is not a desk-only role.
•    Develop sufficient product and process understanding to manage program outcomes effectively; an engineering background is not required.
•    Travel as required to support customer, supplier, program, and business needs.
•    Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
•4+ years of Program Management experience preferred; exceptional candidates with approximately 3 years of relevant, hands-on experience may be considered.
•    Demonstrated experience directly managing external customers and high-visibility relationships; internal-only program management experience is not sufficient.
•    Experience managing multiple complex programs simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
•    Demonstrated ability to handle difficult customer situations, communicate unfavorable news with credible recovery plans, and manage competing priorities.
•    Working knowledge of ETC/EAC, forecasting, margins, bookings, and program financial performance; deep finance specialization is not required.
•    Experience supporting proposals, pricing activities, contracts, and negotiations in partnership with functional subject-matter experts.
•    Ability to influence without direct authority, lead cross-functional recovery actions, and drive accountability through completion.
•    Sound judgment and the ability to make timely decisions without perfect information.
•    Demonstrated comfort engaging directly with Operations and manufacturing teams to resolve execution issues.
•    Strong communication, presentation, relationship-management, and negotiation skills.
•    Continuous-improvement mindset and practical understanding of Lean/Six Sigma principles; certification is not required.
•    Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, or similar enterprise systems is preferred.

Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree required; field of study is flexible; Business or Engineering preferred.
•Aerospace and defense experience is preferred. Relevant experience from medical manufacturing, semiconductor, or other complex technical manufacturing environments may be considered.

Work Environment & Travel
•This position is fully onsite in Chandler, AZ, with no regular hybrid arrangement.
•    The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexibility outside normal business hours when customer or program needs require it.
•    Travel is expected to be up to approximately 25%, primarily for customer visits and occasional supplier support, based on program needs.
•    The role operates in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment and requires strong prioritization, frequent customer interaction, and active factory-floor engagement.

Export-Control Eligibility
Due to U.S. Government contract requirements applicable to this position, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment in this role.

 

 

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