- Robot type
- Drone · Defense
- Location
- Costa MesaCaliforniaUSA
- Job type
- Product
- Posted
- Jul 22, 2026
- Salary
- $166,000–$220,000 a year
Program Manager, Airborne Electronic Warfare
Job description
You'll own the execution of programs that put EW capability on aircraft — manned and unmanned. These are complex, multi-disciplinary integration efforts involving RF hardware, embedded software, firmware, flight qualification, airframe interfaces, and demanding government customers. You'll manage programs from contract award through flight test, qualification, and fielding.
Airborne EW programs move fast but carry high technical risk. Platform integration constraints, flight safety requirements, and limited test windows create an environment where planning, anticipation, and clear communication are the difference between on-time delivery and a year of rework.
Job responsibilities
- Own end-to-end execution of airborne EW programs — scope, schedule, budget, risk, customer relationships, and delivery
- Manage programs involving hardware/software integration onto airborne platforms with all associated qualification and certification requirements
- Serve as primary customer interface for DoD program offices (PEOs, PMAs, SOCOM, platform integrators) on programmatic matters
- Coordinate across RF engineering, embedded software, FPGA/DSP, systems engineering, flight test, and production teams to deliver on commitments
- Manage contract financials — EACs, burn rate, margin, invoicing, and revenue recognition
- Drive requirements definition and management in partnership with systems engineering — translate customer needs into executable scope
- Plan and coordinate flight test events, ground integration activities, and platform qualification milestones
- Manage subcontractor and vendor relationships as needed for platform-specific integration
Job requirements
- 5+ years of demonstrated success managing or leading complex defense technology programs — delivering real systems to real customers on contract
- Direct experience with airborne systems: flight qualification, platform integration, DO-178/DO-254, airworthiness, or flight test coordination
- Track record of managing programs with combined hardware, software, and firmware deliverables in a defense or aerospace environment
- Experience as the primary interface with DoD program offices or platform integrators (prime or sub)
- Comfort operating in technically complex environments — you can follow an engineering discussion about RF, embedded systems, or signal processing without needing everything translated
- Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget simultaneously without letting any one collapse
- Experience working directly with software and hardware engineering teams — not through layers of intermediaries
- Active U.S. Secret clearance (TS/SCI preferred)
Similar jobs
Anduril · Product
Product Manager, Deployed Optical Systems
Waltham, Massachusetts · Lexington, Massachusetts
Anduril · Product
Senior Program Manager
Costa Mesa, California
Anduril · Product
Senior DTB ERP Product Manager
Costa Mesa, California
Anduril · Product
Technical Program Manager, Mission Systems - Active Clearance
Costa Mesa, California
