Product Line Director - LOCUST Programs

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Product Line Director – LOCUST Programs

Directed Energy Business Unit (DE BU) – AeroVironment, Inc.

The Product Line Director (PLD) for the LOCUST family of Directed Energy systems is responsible for overall product line ownership, management of production programs, program execution, and lifecycle management across the LOCUST portfolio. This role serves as the business and execution lead for LOCUST programs, partnering closely with the Technical Product Line Director, and chief engineering team to drive the technical roadmap while ensuring disciplined execution from concept development through production, fielding, and sustainment.

The PLD is accountable for program performance, cost, schedule, risk, and customer satisfaction, and acts as the primary interface between customers, internal engineering teams, supply chain, finance, and senior leadership. This position plays a critical role in scaling directed energy capabilities into operational systems for U.S. Government customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Line & Program Leadership
  • Own end-to-end execution of the LOCUST product line across all phases of the program lifecycle: capture, development, integration, production, fielding, and sustainment
  • Serve as the primary programmatic authority for LOCUST programs, accountable for cost, schedule, technical performance, and delivery commitments
  • Partner with the Technical Product Line Director to align technical roadmap, architecture decisions, and capability evolution with customer requirements and business strategy
  • Lead cross-functional integrated product teams (IPTs) including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, contracts, and finance
• Financial & Program Control
  • Develop, manage, and execute program budgets, EACs, forecasts, and margin performance
  • Ensure disciplined program controls, risk management, and change management across contracts
  • Drive affordability, scalability, and producibility initiatives aligned with customer acquisition strategies
  • Support pricing strategies, proposal development, and negotiation for new programs, follow-ons, and production options
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Act as a senior customer interface for LOCUST programs with U.S. Army, NNSA, U.S. Air Force, and other DoD and interagency stakeholders
  • Support customer engagements including design reviews, program reviews, test events, fielding activities, and operational demonstrations
  • Translate evolving customer CONOPS and mission needs into executable program plans and product enhancements
  • Represent the LOCUST product line in internal and external executive-level forums
• Execution, Production & Sustainment
  • Drive transition from development to production, including supply chain readiness, manufacturing scale-up, and quality assurance
  • Oversee sustainment planning, field support, spares, upgrades, and lifecycle cost reduction efforts
  • Ensure alignment with modular open systems approaches (MOSA) and long-term sustainment strategies
  • Support deployed systems with responsiveness and operational urgency

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Business, or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in defense programs, product line management, or program management
• Demonstrated experience leading directed energy, advanced weapons, or complex defense systems
• Strong working knowledge of EACs, program financials, earned value concepts, and execution metrics
• Experience working directly with U.S. Army, NNSA, U.S. Air Force, and/or other government customers
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams delivering complex, mission-critical systems
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, execution-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-energy laser (HEL) or counter-UAS systems
• Background supporting rapid prototyping, fielding, and operational test events
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition pathways, OTAs, rapid capability offices, and transition-to-program-of-record efforts

Clearance Level

Secret

Salary range

$148,000 - $237,000

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

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.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

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.