Program and Missions IPT Manager

Description

Be Part of the Next Generation of Flight

Aurora Flight Sciences is a leader in unmanned aerial systems, with a fleet of innovative aircraft designed to empower small tactical units, and safeguard our borders. Aurora provides the capabilities and process controls of a large company with the “can do” attitude of a small company.   Aurora’s mission is to detect, protect and explore with technology at every altitude. If you feel you are qualified, apply for this position, it could change your future.

Aurora Flight Sciences is seeking an experienced Program Manager to join our growing team and lead  the development of UAS. This position requires an action and results oriented individual who can effectively lead a program team to achieve demanding integration and fielding program goals.  This individual must also be able to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization, as well as with Government and Commercial customers.

In addition, as business needs dictate, this role will go between a Program Management to an Engineering Management function.

As a member of the Development Programs Business Sector you will work to integrate, demonstrate and operate payload systems to support customer development, capabilities demonstrations, and operations.

As a Program Manager, duties will include:

• Developing and implementing successful new business strategy in line with customer growth needs, objectives and goals. Managing with the new systems payload group utilizing current resources and identifying areas of needed growth.
• Writing contract statement of work and processes associated with specific program customer requirements and objectives utilizing performance measurement and key metrics.
• Maintaining program plans that achieve program objectives including work breakdown of tasks, an integrated master schedule and associated resource plan including establishment of functional program budgets and staffing in line program and company financial objectives.
• Effectively communicating to the program team  including company site operations, functional support and the supply chain management of program tasks and activities.
• Preparing and presenting customer and internal program reviews to communicate status and achievements.
• Providing visibility and being able to effectively communicate group performance reporting, program status, issues and corrective actions to the customer, internal management and the program team.
• Achieving and maintaining customer goals and satisfaction.
• Managing the Programs’ as assigned, by the VP including being responsible to assist the Director of Contracts with contract negotiations, administrative agreements, contract changes and modifications, and new business proposals.
• When functioning as the Program  Manager you will be the company’s focal point for achieving customer program objectives and is responsible for the overall program performance including schedule, quality, and cost/profitability.

As Missions IPT Manager duties will include:

Responsible for the design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of the electronics and software for an unmanned aerial system.  You will lead a team of roughly 10 engineers designing the computers, power system, autopilots, communications systems, and powerplant control for a unique new UAV.  You will be responsible for meeting cost, schedule, and performance requirements. The Missions IPT lead also acts as systems engineer for the avionics and software portions of the program.

Specific Responsibilities as Missions / IPT Lead:

• Provides technical oversight of Missions IPT personnel and actions.
• Select, refine, and integrate payload system, communication system, ground control, and mission processing, exploitation, and dissemination concepts in support of business development and then manages the resulting development & integration projects.
• Interacts closely with DoD customers to develop their mission systems requirements.
• Supports Business Development by developing architectures and design concepts for complete C4ISR systems for our UAVs.
• Works closely with internal engineers and payload vendors to develop system concepts and ultimately leads the integration and tests of payloads into our UAVs.
• Performs operations analysis, grounded by a strong understanding of fundamentals, to define achievable payload performance (range, data rates, latency, image quality, etc.), communication performance (range, throughput, frequency allocation, and encryption), command and control, and mission data processing, exploitation, & dissemination.
• Lead analysis and test of various payloads and communication suites onboard a single UAV to confirm compatibility and capability.
• Lead development and production Concept of Operations, System Specifications, and System ICD documents.
• Demonstrated ability within the past 5 years of conducting mission systems design with tangible design documentation e.g. beyond PowerPoint block diagrams.
• Must have at least one year of hands-on professional experience in at least one, ideally a combination, of the following areas:
• Software development in a relevant subject matter area: UAS or other robotic system guidance, navigation and control; ground-or airborne mission systems general aerospace flight control or cockpit avionics systems; ground stations; payload control.
• Software development for UAV payload, ground station, or communication systems.
• Familiarity with STANAG 4586 protocol and implementation concepts.
• Development/operations of hardware-in-the-loop simulators, conducting testing and troubleshooting of HW/SW interfaces.
• Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) applied to aerospace or military systems (C2, payload data, etc.).
• Must have personally developed (i.e. modeled or written) production software within the preceding 12 months.
• Must be willing to work under, and help refine, a defined software development process.

 Minimum Requirements (education and experience)

• B.S. in Engineering or other related discipline.
• 10+ years’ experience operating as a Project/Program Manager in aerospace including UAS and payload systems development.
• Exceptional presentation skills (verbal and written).
• Excellent interpersonal and multi-tasking skills.
• High level of computer proficiency.
• MS Project experience. P.M.P. Certification desirable.
• Ability to travel.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in mission planning and operations with currently deployed UAV's.
• Survivability analysis and experience working with threat scenario simulations.