Program Manager in Newport News, Virginia at Aery Aviation LLC

About Aery Aviation LLC

Aery Aviation, LLC is an aviation services organization whose focus is on the engineering, certification, and production associated with aircraft modifications. Our team has significant experience spanning everything from single engine ISR aircraft for government utilization to widebody VVIP interior completions. From design to delivery, Aery provides turnkey, bespoke solutions for our clientele.

Who We Are Looking For

Aery Aviation, LLC is seeking an experienced Program Manager (PM) to lead a major contract as the Prime contractor interface and to manage additional government and commercial aviation programs as awarded. The Program Manager will own overall program execution—from award through delivery and sustainment—driving technical excellence, schedule reliability, and financial performance in alignment with Aery’s operational standards, quality requirements, and safety culture.

This role reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and serves as a primary partner to the Prime Contractor and internal teams including Engineering, Quality, Flight Operations, Production, and Finance.

Ideal candidates are proactive, structured leaders who communicate clearly, manage risk early, and thrive in a fast-moving aerospace/defense environment—while building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What You Will Be Doing

1) Program Leadership & Execution

• Serve as primary program lead for the contract and future aviation programs.
• Own program performance across cost, schedule, quality, and risk.
• Lead daily program execution to ensure alignment with Prime contract requirements and Aery standards.
• Coordinate closely with Engineering, Production, and Quality to deliver modification and mission readiness milestones on schedule.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and AS9100D across program activities and deliverables.

2) Financial & Contract Oversight

• Manage P&L performance and program financial reporting in coordination with Accounting and the COO.
• Track budgets, revenue forecasts, labor utilization, and earned value.
• Identify, forecast, and mitigate cost/schedule risks; implement recovery actions when needed.
• Lead contract change management (CCOs, REAs, and modifications) to protect margin and scope integrity.

3) Stakeholder Communication & Customer Leadership

• Act as the primary point of contact for government contracting officers, NAVAIR program representatives, and commercial clients.
• Lead recurring program reviews, status briefings, and milestone meetings.
• Maintain clear, transparent communication across internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment, accountability, and execution discipline.

4) Business Development & Growth

• Support proposal development, cost estimating, and technical volume inputs for new opportunities.
• Contribute to pursuits through development of WBS inputs, project schedules, and staffing plans.
• Provide input to capture strategies and program transition planning for new awards.

5) Program Management Tools & Reporting

• Maintain program visibility using Microsoft Project, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Produce weekly and monthly progress reports covering KPIs, risks, and mitigation actions.
• Maintain accurate RAILs (Revolving Action Item Logs) and ensure program documentation is complete, controlled, and archived.

6) Leadership, Safety Culture & Team Development

• Model Aery’s safety-first and compliance-driven culture in every directive and decision.
• Lead with a modern, people-centered approach—fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor emerging program managers and coordinators; help strengthen organizational program execution capabilities.

You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience in aerospace or defense.
• Demonstrated success leading complex aviation/mission or modification programs, ideally $50M+ scope.
• Experience supporting government contracting and/or DoD agencies.
• Experience in government ISR Operations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Strong skills in analysis, financial management, and executive-level communication.
• Knowledge of PMI PMP principles (PMP preferred; attainable within 12 months).
• Ability to travel up to 25% (domestic and international).
• Participation in Aery’s Drug-Free Workplace Program.
• Completion of annual PM, quality, and FAA Part 145 training as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience managing government contracts.
• Direct experience supporting and/or leading aircraft modification programs.
• Working knowledge of FAA, AS9100D, and FAR/DFARS compliance.
• Background executing Cost-Plus and Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract types.

How You Will Measure Success

• On-time, on-budget delivery of program milestones.
• Customer satisfaction and quality performance outcomes.
• Achievement of safety and contract compliance metrics.
• Strong P&L, margin, and forecast performance versus plan.

Aery Aviation job descriptions are meant as summarizations only. They do not necessarily reflect all duties and responsibilities of a position.

If this opportunity excites you, come join our team!

For Aery Aviation, the question isn’t: “Can we?” When others are limited in the common approach, Aery Aviation jumps into higher gear asking, “How can we do this?” and then proceeds into problem-solving for customers. This is what customers appreciate most about Aery Aviation - avid tenacity. It’s not cookie cutter production that Aery Aviation is cultivating; it is projects that inspire the Aery Aviation work-family to come together and brainstorm, excited to come to work every day because there is always something inventive and interesting to work on.

Our Benefits
We offer the right candidate the chance to join a forward-thinking organization, supported by a competitive compensation and benefits package. Learn more about Aery Aviation, LLC at www.aeryaviation.com.

Aery Aviation, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Aery Aviation, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.