Senior Director, CUAS RF Product Portfolio

AV is seeking an experienced Program Senior Director to lead its Titan CUAS Program in the development and delivery of RF-based Counter‑UAS detect and defeat technology supporting our nation’s defense mission. Reporting to the CUAS RF Vice President, the Senior Director supervises a core team of managers and subject matter experts across Program Management, Operations, Production, QA/QC, Test, Maintenance, Facilities, and Administration. The successful candidate has overall accountability for customer satisfaction, project and product pricing, investment allocations, product road maps, and building the organization necessary to achieve the business goals. This role requires expert execution of defense programs leveraging formal program management processes, rigorous risk management, and stakeholder engagement to deliver high‑impact capabilities on time and within budget. Responsibilities Strategic oversight, governance and accountability of large‑scale program solutions from initiation through sustainment, ensuring cost, schedule, and technical performance, P&L accountability, and alignment with strategic objectives. Run operations at the San Diego AV location to include production, repair, QA/QC, test, administration, and facilities. Coordinate between IRAD and production teams to facilitate rapid productization of emerging technology. Critical decision‑making for all operations and execution of the program; owns the program from inception to deployment and into maintenance of systems. Responsible for continued M&A‑related integration efforts and transition to Enterprise SW. Leads critical cross‑functional efforts across the enterprise. Is responsible for performance results for government customers. Reports financial drivers, customer and market dynamics in business reviews. Accountability and execution of the annual operating plan (AOP) and 5‑year plan for the Product Line and collaborates with other leaders on synergies and strategy. Supports the development of strategy at the division level. Strategic oversight and guidance in proposal development to support additional work scope and manage pre‑award performance to budget. Facilitates negotiations involving major project parameters such as deliverable definition and performance objectives (cost, schedule, quality). Governance of integrated master schedules and earned value metrics, leading risk identification and mitigation efforts. Leads program managers in all functions to identify and mitigate project risks, issues, and opportunities. Guides multi‑company and government teams to ensure seamless execution of technical, financial, contractual, and logistical program aspects. Leads engagement with senior leadership to include leading PMRs and preparation of presentation materials. Required Qualifications Must be a U.S. Citizen with Secret clearance or ability to acquire. Advanced degree in Organizational Leadership, Business, Engineering, or related discipline with 15+ years professional experience in relevant field. 10+ years of experience leading interdisciplinary teams. Experience leading interdisciplinary teams of 40+. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and program management tools. Strong leadership skills with extensive history of managing teams. On‑site employment in the San Diego AV office. Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 1–2x monthly. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), integrated master scheduling, and defense financial reporting tools. Demonstrates strong computer skills and proficiency with office software, productivity tools and other software tools on one’s area of expertise; experience with Oracle Enterprise S/W is a strong plus. Experienced and comfortable with presenting to executive leadership. Display strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to analyze and break down problems into components. Ability to work on problems of complex scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors. Exercise judgment, strategic thinking, and best practices to determine appropriate action, yet also creatively thinks outside the box to find solutions to never‑solved problems. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths and adapt decision‑making style based on situational circumstances. Inspires, motivates and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees. Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation, while helping others deal with the effects of change. Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships. Has effective problem‑solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. Consistently demonstrates teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one’s own interests. Benefits AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. The salary range for this role is $187,000 – $274,575. ITAR Requirement This position requires access to information subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or be approved for an export license by the governing agency governing the technology. Any offer conditional on export license approval is subject to AeroVironment’s determination of an appropriate time frame. EEO Statement We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr AV