Manager (program planning & controls)

Position work location: Merritt Island, FL. Fully remote candidates located within the U.S. will also be considered.

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions.

Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customer's mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work.

Position Summary

The Manager, Program Planning & Controls leads the integrated scheduling and risk management functions for Airbus U.S. satellite programs. This role is responsible for establishing, maturing, and enforcing best‑practice program planning, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) discipline, and enterprise‑wide Risk & Opportunity (R&O) Management. The manager ensures that cost, schedule, and risk baselines are developed, maintained, and accurately reported, enabling predictable execution in a complex aerospace and defense environment.

This position provides leadership, process governance, and functional oversight to a team of schedulers and the Risk Manager, ensuring consistent application of IMS and R&O processes across all hardware, software, and IRAD efforts.

This position reports to the Vice President - Space Program Management.

Position Responsibilities:

Functional Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead, coach, and grow a high‑performing Program Planning & Controls team consisting of three Program Schedulers and one Risk Manager.
• Define standards of practice for schedule development, schedule maintenance, and R&O processes.
• Drive a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in planning and controls.

Program Scheduling & IMS Governance:

• Oversee creation, maintenance, and quality of Integrated Master Schedules in accordance with AUS scheduling policy and IMS process guidance.
• Ensure schedules accurately reflect scope, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), dependencies, risks, resources, and contractual requirements.
• Uphold best‑practice scheduling principles including critical path analysis, logic integrity, baseline control, and periodic schedule health assessments.
• Partner with Program Managers to ensure IMS is a living, decision‑support tool and is aligned with program execution strategies.
• Support schedule inputs to Earned Value Management (EVM), Estimate at Completion (EAC), major reviews, and customer‑facing deliverables.

Risk & Opportunity Management (R&O):

• Provide functional leadership to the Risk Manager and oversee implementation of standardized R&O processes in accordance with AUS R&O policy.
• Ensure risks and opportunities are consistently identified, assessed, scored, tracked, and mitigated across all satellite programs and IRAD activities.
• Facilitate cross-functional risk boards, ensuring that mitigation plans are actionable and tied to schedule and cost impacts.
• Drive R&O reporting to program leadership, including exposure summaries, trend analysis, and escalation of critical risks.
• Integrate R&O outputs into scheduling, planning, EAC development, and overall program decision-making.

Program Controls & Governance:

• Establish and maintain standard processes, templates, tools, and governance mechanisms supporting schedule management, baseline control, and R&O.
• Support compliance with contractual requirements, internal audits, and lifecycle maturity gate reviews.
• Provide regular performance reporting to PMO leadership, including schedule metrics, risk exposure, and integrated controls insights.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

• Collaborate with Program Managers, Chief Engineers, Finance, Contracts, and Operations to ensure integrated planning and execution.
• Present planning and risk insights to senior leadership with clarity, accuracy, and data-driven recommendations.
• Serve as a key contributor to organizational learning-driving continuous improvement in planning, scheduling, analytics, and risk culture.

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in engineering, project management, business, or related field.

Recommended Experience:

Direct experience (8+ years recommended) in program planning, scheduling, or program controls within aerospace, defense, or complex engineering environments.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• Demonstrated leadership managing scheduling and/or risk functions.
• Proficiency with IMS development in Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling tools.
• Strong understanding of risk identification, scoring, and mitigation processes in a technical program environment.
• Ability to interpret technical schedules, manage dependencies, and communicate impacts clearly.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with satellite development, space systems, or mission‑critical manufacturing programs.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM), WBS structuring, and cost account alignment.
• Knowledge of U.S. defense regulatory frameworks (ITAR, DFARS, CUI/CMMC).
• PMI‑SP, PMP, or PMI‑RMP certification.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to lead through influence and drive organizational discipline.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to translate complex program data into actionable insights.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and data/reporting tools.

Travel Required:

Periodic travel (20–30%) to Airbus US facilities or partner companies, as required.

Eligibility:

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Clearance:

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Physical Requirements:

• Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents.
• Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds including safety warnings or alarms.
• Equipment Operation: able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment.
• Carrying: able to carry documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.
• Lifting: able to lift documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.
• Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer.
• Squatting / Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.
• Standing: able to stand for long periods of time.
• Walking: able to walk through office and outside areas including uneven surfaces.

Equal Opportunity:

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status.

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your resume or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to HR@airbusus.com

Company Website: www.airbusus.com