Program Manager, PLE and Operations

What you’ll do: 

As the Program Manager for Product Lifecycle Engineering (PLE) and Operations  you will be responsible and accountable for the performance of meaningful operations and PLE projects critical to the success of the Archer business and our eVTOL aircraft. You will additionally be deployed to problem solve and drive execution of various operations projects based on program needs. 

• The primary deliverable for this role is the successful management of the Product Lifecycle Engineering team, including the Configuration Management & Product Lifecycle Management.  You will be responsible for and have accountability to ensure Product Lifecycle Engineering plans, processes, procedures, tools resources, and solutions are aligned with the aircraft program milestones and meet all company and aircraft program requirements. 
• You will be responsible for consulting and collaborating with the Functional Management owners for the development of engineering and configuration management solutions including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools, processes, procedures and applications. 
• The scope of this role includes management of the Cost, Schedule and Technical Performance to program requirements and milestones for the PLE team, with a focus on process optimization, leading new product development, Risk and Opportunity management, Integrated Schedule Management, and other Program Management practices.
• The secondary deliverable for this role is the successful management and delivery of Operations projects.
• You will Identify, plan and execute strategic projects to improve organizational efficiency in collaboration with cross-functional technology and operations teams.
• You will additionally be deployed to support the development of key infrastructure initiatives across the engineering organization, based on program needs  (i.e. engineering lab tools development, simulation, automation project). 
• The Program Manager will 
• Openly collaborate with the Director, Product Lifecycle Management to ensure the functional capabilities of this discipline effectively enable the aircraft design, development, test and certification of our inaugural aircraft platform is successful. 
• Collaborate with the Operations team to optimize processes across the business. 
• Define, launch, and drive mission-critical technical and business initiatives to ensure program success and will be expected to resolve a wide range of issues in imaginative as well as practical ways.
• Develop strong relationships across Archer, inclusive of suppliers, and lead a multidisciplinary team to execute complex development programs within schedule and budget. 
• Build program task-based schedules, lead program kickoff and / or  gate meetings, and track milestone progress against the program management plan.
• Identify and manage program Risks, Issues and Opportunities to closure. 
• Ensure, through the Configuration Management team, that the aircraft configuration control and change management are properly employed to maintain technical discipline of the program. 
• Provide clear priorities for all areas of a project and develop steps to oversee their timely execution
• Be proactive about challenges or constraints within a project and seek to manage them accordingly, including driving process improvements across the organization
• Work alongside PLE and operations teams to successfully monitor progress and implementation of initiatives
• Establish milestones for necessary contributions from departments and facilitate their collaboration
• In collaboration with other Program Managers, Engineering Directors and Work Package Managers, define, acquire, and allocate budget, staff, and other resources necessary to accomplish the goals and/or objective for PLE projects.
• Exercise judgment and use delegated authority for planning, directing, coordinating, administering, and executing many routine and complex projects/programs.

What You Need:

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or a related field. 
• Familiarity with PLE systems and tools 
• Experience in one or more aviation engineering disciplines
• Knowledge of Agile methodologies and Jira software systems. 
• A minimum of 10 years of Technical product and program leadership experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills especially in team building/maintenance and customer relationships.
• Experience with development and implementation of company processes.
• Must be able to act independently and make decisions on administrative and operational issues affecting the success of this organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on process optimization.

Bonus Qualifications: 

• Experience with all phases of civil aircraft certification programs 
• A bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science are preferred (or equivalent),
• A master's degree in one of these same academic disciplines is desirable,
• Thorough understanding of engineering product development including design phases, manufacturing business processes and supply chain management knowledge,
• Experience implementing solutions or processes for Polarion and Teamcenter or other large enterprise level initiatives.
• Direct operations experience at an aerospace OEM or Tier 1 aerospace supplier.
• Understanding of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) processes, principles and tools

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Program Management.

Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications

At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $188,000 - $235,000. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Archer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.