Project Manager - Aerospace & Aviation

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead cross-functional teams delivering complex aerospace programs from concept through delivery. The ideal candidate will combine strong program management skills, technical understanding of aerospace systems, and proven leadership to manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of aerospace projects (subsystems, flight hardware, avionics, integration, test, or similar)
• Define project scope, deliverables, schedule, milestones, and resource requirements; develop and maintain integrated project plans
• Manage project budgets, forecasting, change control, and cost performance to meet financial targets
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, schedule, and programmatic risks; maintain and update risk registers and contingency plans
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (systems engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, test, safety, procurement) to ensure timely delivery
• Serve as primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including customers, prime contractors, and suppliers; provide regular status reporting and program reviews
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and quality requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA, DO-178/254/254-equivalents where applicable)
• Implement and enforce project management processes and best practices; drive continuous improvement
• Manage supplier performance, contracts, and deliverable acceptance criteria
• Facilitate technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and capture action items to closure

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or related field
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification — required and active
• 5+ years of project management experience in the aerospace or defense industry (managing multi-disciplinary engineering programs preferred)
• Proven track record delivering hardware or integrated systems programs on schedule and within budget
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies, tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, JIRA/Confluence), and reporting practices
• Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and conflict-resolution skills
• Solid understanding of systems engineering lifecycle, test & verification processes, and manufacturing constraints
• Willingness to travel to customer sites, test facilities, or suppliers as needed

Nice to Haves

• Security clearance (or ability to obtain) — Secret or higher
• Experience with aerospace standards (AS9100, NADCAP) and safety/flight-certification processes
• Experience managing subcontractors and international suppliers
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and practices
• Lean/Agile program experience for software or avionics development

Competencies & Soft Skills

• Strong organizational and decision-making skills
• Ability to prioritize and adapt in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborative, proactive, and results-driven mindset
• Attention to detail combined with big-picture program perspective

About Aery Aviation LLC

Aery Aviation, LLC is an aerospace engineering, aircraft modification, certification, manufacturing, and flight operations company headquartered in Newport News, Virginia. Aery provides integrated aviation solutions supporting defense, government, commercial, and special mission operators worldwide.

Benefits

We offer the right candidate the chance to join a forward-thinking organization, supported by a competitive compensation and benefits package.