Program Manager, Aerostructures - Salt Lake City, UT

Job Purpose:

This position focuses on a major aerostructures program that represents a strategic opportunity for AEC. Successful performance enables growth in advanced composite aerostructures, requiring a higher level of program leadership and frequent, highlevel communication across the customer organization. The Program Manager will lead all programmatic activities tied to composite aerostructure development, maturation, and transition toward production. The role requires strong project management acumen, primarily managing a large, international development effort in conjunction with project partners and foreign government organizations.

This role can be based in the US in 2026 and 2027 but will require an ex-pat assignment to the UK in late 2027 through at least 2029. It is anticipated that the role will return to a US based AEC facility after the Ex-Pat required assignment is completed.

Location:

Salt Lake City, USA 2026&2027, UK 2027-2029

Schedule:

We offer a flexible 9/80 work schedule, where you'll enjoy an extra day off every other week. This structure balances full-time hours with more personal time, supporting both productivity and work-life balance.

Job Responsibilities:

In performing their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to adhere to Albany's current values: Albany Wins Together, Count on Each Other, Own Your Actions, Care About Each Other, and Share Your Enthusiasm. Safety must always come first; we never compromise on safety for the sake of achieving another objective. Employees are also responsible for the health and safety of themselves and each other.

• Lead a multiyear development of a composite aerostructure part with an international internal and external project team, multiple project partners, through TRL 6 expected in 2029
• Primary program interfaces with the customer and manages that customer expectations are consistently matched with contractual obligations throughout the program. Manages all program activities, including coordination and direction of program review sessions with customer and internal functional groups.
• Directs all phases of customer programs from inception through (life of program) completion. Responsible for delivering assigned programs on schedule and within budget. Coordinates with functional managers and project partners to secure the resources required to meet program objectives. Assumes lead accountability for developing and maintaining the master project plan / roadmap and for achieving project milestones and schedule. Influences various line functions and customers to deliver required outputs to meet project milestones on time.
• Lead assembly of monthly financial close reporting tools for development programs and remaining costs and contractual compliance to internal audit standards, and customer budgets if they exist.
• Participant in pre-award strategy development and proposal activities. Supports preparation of proposals, program business plans, and statements of work. Translates customer requirements into product and service specifications and budgets.

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes.

Qualifications/Characteristics:

• Ability to lead a large, multi-year, composite development project with an international team, working across multiple time zones and cultures, and in collaboration with external customers, government agencies, academic institutions, and industrial partners
• Strong skills in successful program management principles with emphasis on quality, cost, and schedule. Ability to strategically manage big picture aspects and details.
• Knowledge of aerostructure composite processes with focus on automated fiber placement, RTM, and/or assembly.
• Experienced managing process development projects through TRL 6.
• Financial skills and knowledge to fully understand what drives our customers in this program and what we need to put in place internally to meet those needs. This includes contractual and non-contractual issues covering the incidence of cost, revenue generation and recognition, capital requirements, project accounting for development and NRC.
• Ability to develop and maintain strategic customer relationships and have skills to manage difficult customer situations while projecting company competence and confidence to the customer.
• Ability to successfully communicate (internally and externally) complex issues surrounding a project with a solid grasp of the business / commercial details and the technical details, including the interpersonal skills required to create and confidently deliver a cohesive and structured presentation.
• 10 + years of program management experience, including new product introduction experience, operational leadership or 10+ years project engineering/management experience in the aerospace industry or within an engineered products environment that requires significant product development and engineering input prior to transition to production.
• Demonstrated communications experience with customers including reducing complex issues to straightforward approaches while facilitating multiple levels and functions towards program objectives - internally and externally.
• Bachelor of Engineering or other appropriate degree from an accredited college, or equivalent combination of education and experience. MBA preferred.
• Technical background/ experience/ knowledge in complex aerospace deliverables. Direct composites or advanced textiles technical experience preferred.
• Advanced computer proficiency level using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint).

Working Conditions:

Office environment, duties performed indoors, moderate to quiet noise and comfortable temperatures. Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental condition levels.

Physical requirements:

Occasionally positions self to move an office item >10 lbs.

Frequently move about the production floor and office area to attend meetings or training

Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 75% of the time

Frequently operates a computer, enters data into systems, verifies information, etc...