General Manager, Aerospace
About the role
The General Manager serves as the senior site leader with full P&L responsibility for a $50–$100M defense-focused aerospace manufacturing facility. This role is accountable for secure delivery of high-reliability products and systems supporting U.S. Department of Defense, aerospace prime contractors, and classified customer programs.
Responsibilities
Business, Financial & Program Accountability
Full profit and loss (P&L) ownership for the facility
Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, and long-range defense program strategies
Drive cost discipline, productivity, and margin performance across multi-year defense contracts
Ensure compliance with government contract requirements, pricing structures, and audits (DCMA/DCAA support)Defense Manufacturing & Program Execution
Lead manufacturing operations supporting DoD, classified, and export-controlled programs
Ensure flawless execution of customer programs involving long lead times, configuration control, and change management
Balance production stability with surge capacity and new defense program introductions
Oversee scheduling, capacity planning, and risk mitigation across defense program portfoliosQuality, Compliance & Security Leadership
Ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO, ITAR, DFARS, NIST 800-171, CMMC (as applicable), and customer-specific defense requirements
Maintain robust Configuration Management, First Article Inspection (FAI), and traceability systems
Act as senior site representative during DCMA, DCAA, customer, and government audits
Enforce physical, cyber, and information security protocols aligned with classified and controlled programsCustomer & Government Interface
Serve as the primary site executive for defense prime contractors and government stakeholders
Lead customer reviews, program recoveries, and performance improvement initiatives
Support new defense contract pursuits, site capability assessments, and government facility evaluations
Build trusted relationships with customer quality, program, and security leadershipPeople, Leadership, Workforce Development, Safety & Risk Management
Build and lead a high-performance leadership team across the company
Develop cleared and clearance-eligible talent pipelines
Foster a culture of discipline, accountability, ethical conduct, and mission alignment
Partner with HR on workforce planning, employee relations, and compliance with government labor requirements
Champion a zero-injury safety culture across all operations
Lead enterprise risk management related to supply chain, defense program delivery, and compliance
Ensure continuity plans for mission-critical programs and national security obligations
Proven experience leading through government audits and customer program reviews
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
MBA or advanced technical degree (Preferred)
Familiarity with CMMC implementation and cybersecurity compliance (Preferred)
Experience working with major aerospace defense primes (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense) (Preferred)
Qualifications
- Frequent standing, walking, reaching, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and working from ladders or scaffolds
- Sitting is occasional
- Lifting to 10 pounds, frequently up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds
- Close vision is required
- Regular exposure to electrical shock hazards and moving mechanical parts
Skills
- Proven experience leading through government audits and customer program reviews
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
- MBA or advanced technical degree (Preferred)
- Familiarity with CMMC implementation and cybersecurity compliance (Preferred)
- Experience working with major aerospace defense primes (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense) (Preferred)
Benefits
Lincoln Electric offers competitive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Pay
Salary range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Schedule
This role is full-time and works standard business hours.