Program Manager

Program Manager

Salary: $100,000 - $125,000 per year

Location: Rockford, Illinois

Minimum Degree:

Relocation Assistance: Available

Job Description

Summary Leads the planning, sourcing, quoting, and technical coordination of electronic and electromechanical components and assemblies used in commercial and military products. Owns the full lifecycle of supplier engagement, cost management, and cross-functional execution to ensure compliant, on-time, and cost-effective delivery of engineered materials and FAA Repairs.

Responsibilities

• Business Development: Identify and capture new opportunities within the commercial and military sectors.
• Relationship Management: Act as the "face of the company" for Tier 1 OEMs and military procurement officers.
• Market Analysis: Monitor industry trends in avionics and electromechanical systems to anticipate customer needs.
• Pricing Strategy: Develop competitive pricing models by calculating labor, material costs, and overhead while maintaining target margins.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluate lead times and technical feasibility, especially for obsolete or "hard-to-find" electronic components.
• Program ownership Manage schedules, deliverables, risks, and budgets for assigned hardware programs involving electronic and electromechanical parts and assemblies.
• Planning & forecasting Develop material plans, long-lead strategies, and procurement roadmaps aligned with engineering, production, and customer requirements.
• Sourcing & supplier management Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers capable of meeting commercial and military standards; drive competitive quoting, cost negotiations, and contract alignment.
• Technical coordination Analyze RFQs (Request for Quotes). Work as an engineer with the team to create and interpret drawings, specifications, BOMs, and change notices; ensure suppliers understand technical requirements and manufacturability constraints.
• Quoting & cost analysis Prepare RFQs, analyze supplier proposals, perform cost breakdowns, and recommend sourcing decisions based on price, lead time, capability, and compliance.
• Compliance oversight Ensure materials and suppliers meet applicable regulatory and customer requirements, including ITAR, DFARS, MILSTD, RoHS, FAA, AS9100 and quality system standards.
• Issue resolution Lead root-cause investigations for supplier issues, delivery risks, or engineering changes; drive corrective actions and maintain program continuity.
• Cross-functional leadership Coordinate with engineering, quality, supply chain, contracts, and manufacturing to maintain alignment and resolve obstacles throughout the program lifecycle.
• Documentation & reporting Maintain program dashboards, procurement status, risk logs, and configuration control documentation; provide updates to leadership and customers.
• Continuous improvement Identify opportunities to streamline sourcing workflows, reduce cost, improve supplier performance, and strengthen technical collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience managing programs involving electronic components, PCBs, harnesses, electromechanical assemblies, or precision mechanical parts in the aerospace or defense industries. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH SOME TYPE OF AEROSPACE OR DEFENSE.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
• Background in procurement, supply chain, or engineering within commercial, aerospace, or defense environments.
• Familiarity with military standards, export controls, and quality requirements.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage multiple priorities, and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, BOM management, and project management tools.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Why is This a Great Opportunity:

Growing company. Business is booming! Great cooperation with a great go to V.P. of H.R.