Program Manager, Aerospace & Defense

Job Description

Job Description

FLAG’s  mission is to show our contractors & clients the best this industry can offer by upholding our principles of leadership, service, and exceptionalism.

For a Best-in-Class experience, partner with FLAG and allow us to demonstrate how we’re changing the industry, and how we can do the same for you.

We are looking to hire a Program Manager  in   the city of Torrance, CA.  This is a Direct Hire  opportunity to join and lead a high-profile U.S. Army aviation program supporting the Flight School Next initiative.

Role Title: Program Manager

Location: Torrance, California.

Reporting To: VP, Business Development

Travel: Up to 33% as required

Range: $130,000-$150,000 (Dependent on Experience and Qualifications)

Position Summary:

The Program Manager serves as the overall program lead for the execution of the U.S. Army Flight School Next (FSN) program. Based in Torrance, California, this role owns cost, schedule, and performance across the program and serves as the central point of coordination between our engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, customer success, and the Flight School Next field team at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

The ideal candidate possesses strong program management discipline, defense contracting experience, and the leadership presence to represent our o Army stakeholders, the contracting prime, and internal executive leadership while driving on-time, on-budget delivery of a mission-critical training fleet and sustainment program.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Leadership & Execution

• Own overall cost, schedule, and technical performance for the Flight School Next program.
• Develop and maintain the integrated master schedule, program plans, and performance baselines.
• Lead program reviews, milestone gates, and executive status briefings.
• Manage program risk, opportunity, and corrective action planning to ensure mission success.

Contract & Financial Management

• Manage program budget, financial forecasting, and earned value against the approved baseline.
• Ensure compliance with contract requirements, deliverables, and applicable federal regulations.
• Coordinate contract modifications, renewals, and option-year exercises with the contracting prime.
• Oversee subcontract and supplier performance in support of program objectives.

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

• Serve as the primary program point of contact for the contracting prime and Army stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with the Business Development Director and Flight School Site Manager on field execution.
• Represent the program to our executive leadership and the Vice President of Business Development.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with military, government, and contractor partners.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Direct and integrate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and customer success teams.
• Ensure field, technical, and account support resources are aligned to program requirements.
• Drive process improvements that reduce cost of operation and improve customer satisfaction.
• Support deployment, fielding, and sustainment activities across all Flight School Next locations.

Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare program status reports, executive briefings, and performance dashboards.
• Maintain program documentation, records, and configuration management compliance.
• Track, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established by RHC.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, program management, or related field.
• 10+ years of program or project management experience, including defense or aerospace programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing cost, schedule, and performance on government or DoD contracts.
• PMP certification or equivalent program management credential preferred.
• Experience with Robinson helicopters or rotary-wing platforms preferred.
• Strong leadership, organization, and risk management skills.
• Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, ERP Software (e.g. Epicor, SAP, or like software) and Atlassian Jira (or like software).
• Ability to work independently and lead within a cross-functional team environment.
• Must be able to work onsite at Torrance, California, including hangar and flight line environments at headquarters and Fort Rucker, Alabama. Work hours are assigned by business needs Monday through Friday; occasional weekend work may be required based on operational demand.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Possess current passport.

\nCompany Description

Leading Southern California aerospace manufacturer specializing in rotary-wing aircraft and supporting U.S. Army aviation programs.

Company Description

Leading Southern California aerospace manufacturer specializing in rotary-wing aircraft and supporting U.S. Army aviation programs.