Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering
8+ years in the aerospace industry, with 5+ years in program management
Experience in managing complex aerospace programs, ideally in propulsion or power systems
Familiarity with program schedules and budgets
Knowledge of agile methodologies in hardware or hybrid environments
Strong background in aircraft propulsion or hybrid-electric systems
Excellent communication and leadership skills
Responsibilities
Lead program planning and execution for electric propulsion systems
Manage project scope, schedule, and budgets
Collaborate with teams to define requirements and risk strategies
Drive resolution of technical performance and schedule issues
Interface with suppliers and certification bodies for compliance
Support long-term product strategy and technology roadmap
Facilitate design reviews and program updates to stakeholders
Benefits
100% paid medical, dental, and vision for employees, 75% for dependents
Starting at four weeks of paid time off for vacation, sick, and personal days
End of year bonuses for eligible employees
401(k) plan
Relocation assistance
Professional development stipend
Snack and beverage provisions for team morale
Full Job Description
About the Role
Whisper Aero is seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead the development and integration of electric ducted fan propulsion systems for next generation of commercial and defense aircraft in Nashville, TN. In this role, you will oversee cross-functional engineering teams. You'll drive program execution from concept through certification while meeting performance, schedule, and cost metrics.
The successful candidate will be someone with a strong aerospace background in aircraft, propulsion, or aerospace component development who thrives in a fast paced, technically challenging environment. They will be able to clearly communicate with all stakeholders including engineers, suppliers, customers, and leadership. What You'll Do
Lead program planning and execution for electric propulsion system development from concept through test and certification
Manage scope, schedule, and budgets while ensuring alignment across the team
Collaborate with cross-functional team to define system requirements, milestones, and risk management strategies
Drive issue resolution and program decisions balancing technical performance, risk, and schedule
Interface with suppliers, customers, and certification authorities to ensure compliance with aerospace standards and regulatory requirements
Support long-term product strategy, roadmap planning, and technology maturation for future propulsion systems
Facilitate cross-functional design reviews and program updates to internal and external stakeholders
Interact regularly with leadership to communicate status, priorities, issues, and resource needs
Use agile management tools to plan sprints, track progress, and maintain documentation across teams
Basic Qualifications
S. Person status is required, as this position may access export controlled data
8+ years of experience in the aerospace industry with at least 5 years in a program management role
Proven track record managing complex, multi-disciplinary aerospace programs (preferably involving propulsion or power systems)
Experience defining and managing program schedules and budgets
Experience applying agile methodologies in a hardware or hybrid hardware/software program environment
Strong understanding of one of the following areas: aircraft propulsion, electrical power generation/distribution, or hybrid-electric architectures
Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical teams and manage suppliers or partners
Proficiency with agile project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or equivalent to plan, prioritize, track, and execute hardware and software development activities (including resource allocation and workload management)
Experience using Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms to maintain technical documentation and design artifacts while enabling effective cross-functional communication and project execution
Background in R&D environments developing new aerospace technologies
Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills
A willingness to work on tasks outside your primary job functions
Bonus Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering, or a related field
PMP certification
Experience with aircraft engine, electrical machine, inverter, or energy storage system development
Experience with aircraft propulsion, inlet, or exhaust integration development
Working knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements related to aircraft, engines, electric machines, or electronics
Strong understanding of certification processes (Part 23, 25, or 33) and system safety (ARP4754A, ARP4761)
Experience with testing of medium or high voltage power systems
Experience with modern requirements management software
#LI-DC1
Benefits:
Top-tier Benefits: Employee-first focused comprehensive benefits package, minimum of 90% employer-paid plans for employees and dependents with optional HSA/FSA account offerings
PTO & Federal Holidays: Starting at four weeks of paid time off for vacation, sick, and personal days
Competitive Salary: Value-based compensation, plus enjoy Tennessee's no-income-tax life
End of Year Bonuses: For eligible employees
We always have beverages and snacks available to energize you throughout the day, with paid team meals based on office demands.
