Senior Program Manager, Air Vehicle Integration

As Senior Program Manager, Air Vehicle Integration (AVI), you will own a portfolio of platform-integration programs spanning Merlin's fleet future platforms, working with cross-functional teams to get Merlin Pilot onto airframes. You will run the program with rigor, scale it as the portfolio grows, and make integration predictable.

What You Will Do

You will own integration program execution for assigned airframes end to end, lead the functional team, set program strategy, milestones, and priorities, and hold engineering, hardware, and functional managers accountable to schedule and scope.

Why It Might Be a Fit

You will thrive in a fast-paced environment, build trust with operators, primes, and certification authorities, and contribute to capture and new opportunity shaping alongside Business Development and technical leads.

Requirements

• 10+ years in program or project leadership, ideally in aerospace, autonomy, defense, or safety-critical dual-use systems
• Proven success leading complex programs that combine physical aircraft integration with software/autonomy across cross-functional teams
• Direct experience with aircraft airworthiness and certification
• Experience managing hardware integration and subcontractors/suppliers as schedule drivers, not just software workstreams
• Strong command of the full program lifecycle from capture to fielding, including contract structures, CDRLs, SOWs, IMS/WBS, and earned-value metrics
• Proven ability to lead a cross functional team and ability to context-switch across strategy, execution, and team dynamics over multiple efforts
• Fluency with program tooling: Jira, requirements management (e.g., Jama), and IMS/scheduling tools
• Strong systems thinking and technical curiosity; exceptional listening, communication, and stakeholder-alignment skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance
• Willingness to travel and work onsite at integration, flight-test, and partner locations as programs require

Benefits

• catered lunches
• snacks
• beverages
• health insurance
• dental insurance
• life insurance
• unlimited vacation
• 401k with match