Principal Technical Program Manager (2024-032)

Astronics Advanced Electrical Systems (AES) is seeking a Principal Technical Program Managerto join our Airborne Power Control (APC) Product Team in Kirkland, WA.

This is an on-site position that offers flexibility to work from home one ~ two days per week after initial onboarding.

If you have experience with Aerospace engineering development projects and are able to lead multi-functional technical engineering teams through new product development and large-scale system integration and are interested in working for a dynamic company that has earned awards as one of Washington’s Best Places to work for 15 years consecutively, please read on!

JOB SUMMARY

The overriding business objective for the Principal Technical Program Manager (TPM) will be to successfully transition AES to a world-recognized leader in aircraft electrical power systems for small to mid-sized business jets, UAV's and rotorcraft.

The TPM manages the development and implementation process of Astronics AES’ products and services. Coordinates departmental or cross-functional teams, focused on delivering new or upgrading existing products. Monitors the project from initiation through delivery including planning and directing schedules and monitoring budget/spending.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead development projects. The ultimate objective for this position is to successfully lead a technical team in a fast paced, high pressure environment, on assigned product development projects from inception to production. The TPM will utilize effective communication, problem resolution, technical decision making, and aggressive project management skills to accomplish the objectives. Success criteria for this position will be development of a collaborative working relationship with the technical team and successful completion of the assigned product development projects by meeting all customer expectations, product technical performance, deliverable milestones on schedule, NRE budget, and product recurring design to cost targets.
• Manage external customer expectations, communications, negotiations, and scope creep. The primary goal of the TPM will be to successfully build and manage external customer relationships, communications, and expectations to reduce risk to the company utilizing effective communication and negotiation skills. Success criteria for this position will be building, or fostering existing relationships, with key external customer contacts, and negotiation of contracts and engineering change requests based on requested technical changes and/or scope creep eliminating NRE cost overruns and/or schedule delays.
• Resolve problems both internal and with the customer for both technical and commercial issues. The successful TPM will leverage their problem resolution skills, communication skills, project management skills, and experience to resolve both technical and commercial issues with both internal and external customers in a timely, highly motivated, and calm manner. Success criteria for this position will be resolving problems in a timely manner with positive concurrence from both sides in a calm and collective manner.
• Lead product development technical & commercial proposal activities. The successful TPM will lead a proposal generation team in a fast paced, high pressure environment, on assigned product development proposals utilizing effective communication, technical decisions making, and project management skills. Proposal generation includes volume creation, NRE and recurring cost analyses, schedule estimation, contract review/negotiations, and compliance matrix generation. Success criteria for this position will be submitting the completed thorough proposal on schedule meeting all customer RFP expectations.
• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with engineering, operations, upper management and external customers. The TPM will effectively communicate with both internal and external customers providing clear direction, planning, clarification, guidance, decisions, status, and issue resolution utilizing informal email, formal Word & Excel correspondence, PowerPoint presentations, and MS Project as applicable. Success criteria for this position will be submitting and presenting to senior management monthly program reviews and external customer quarterly program performance reviews.
• Support on-going company quality initiatives. The TPM will successfully support and may lead the development program management group with on-going company quality initiatives, as assigned, including process/procedure improvements, cost reduction initiatives, & schedule efficiency improvements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical degree from an accredited institution. MBA preferred.
• Eight (8) or more years of experience in Program Management, Engineering, Operations, or other related functions.
• Five (5) or more years of multi-discipline team leadership experience.
• Program Management and/or Project Engineering experience within Aerospace engineering development projects.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• As a US Department of Defense Contractor, Astronics is bound by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Must be a US Person under ITAR to be eligible.
• An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment background screen and drug test including screening for the use of cannabis.

Base Salary is $152,072 - $242,920 per year. Several job-related and non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to experience in comparable roles, skill sets, training, education, licensure or certifications, other qualifications, market conditions and business needs influence actual salary offered.

Astronics AES offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Stay Healthy – Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity
• Save for the Future – 401K & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Find Balance – Work/life balance culture. Employee Assistance Program
• Time for You – Generous Paid Time Off, starting at 120 hours annually, plus 12 Paid Holidays per year