About this opportunity
AeroVironment, Inc. lists this Director, Program Management opportunity in strathearn, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary
The Product Line Director designs, develops and leads activities for a specific group of products for AeroVironment, including planning through production release and end of product life. This position communicates and facilitates relationships with customers, socializes roadmaps with internal teams, partners with executive and strategy teams, and works daily with Program Management and Engineering. Will define creative, high quality, complex roadmaps for missions, products, and capabilities to achieve the company’s strategic goals.
Position Responsibilities
Holds complete responsibility, accountability, and authority for a specific loitering munition product line
Leads the product line through entire lifecycle from inception to sunset
Provides leadership on new product introduction activities with engineering and operations and ensures alignment with the Go-to-Market plans
Effectively balances customer and business needs when planning and retiring products
Establishes, communicates, and achieves buy-in for product line strategies
Works with customer programs to manage new pursuits and contract negotiations
Able to provide guidance and direction for new business pursuits and proposal efforts
Collaborates with Marketing and Business Development to define product pricing, promotion, placement, and preferred features
Collaborates with stakeholders to develop Product Requirements
Consults with CTO office and/or engineering on latest technologies and their inclusion within the product roadmap
Manages prioritization and trade-offs among projects to effectively balance products needs with resource availability
Interfaces and collaborates with customers to understand concept of operations and problem statements
Creates buy-in for the product vision both internally and with key customers
Leads fiscal year budgeting for product line R&D and sustainment activities and holds budget accountability
Evaluates addressable markets, risks, opportunities, and competitors to support current and future business pursuits
Provides leadership guidance to the execution teams working within the product line
Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Minimum of 15+ years’ relevant experience
Experience taking 3 major systems to market in a low rate or full rate production environment
Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results – is a self-starter and self-directed
Demonstrated experience managing profit and loss in a technology company
5+ years experience managing development budgets
Experienced in, and is comfortable with, presenting to executive leadership
Experienced in product road mapping, R&D, and product sustainment activities
Knowledge of weapon systems and products, with a track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously
Experience with delivering mature systems to Domestic and International customers
Experience managing the work of others and job tasking
Familiarity with managing Profit/Loss
Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency with office productivity software
Experience creating and building teams through the use of leadership attributes
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
Advanced degree preferred
Leads with rapid agility to deal with shifting priorities, demands, and timelines
Leads by example and fosters a culture of leadership and teamwork
Displays strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to analyze and break down problems into components
Exhibits exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
Physical Demands Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer. May require travel to sites/program and special functions.
Special Requirements U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required. Clearance Level No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$139,000 - $212,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
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.
For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:
We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.
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.
ITAR U.S. Citizenship required
ITAR U.S. Citizenship required
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.
Careers at AeroVironment
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.