Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager
Company Size: 25-30 employees
Location: Lakewood WA
Job Type: Full-time

Job Description:

We are a growing, fast-paced AS9100-certified aerospace machine shop looking for a hands-on Aerospace Program Manager. In a shop of 25-30 people, this is a high-visibility, multi-faceted role. You will not just manage spreadsheets — you will act as the primary bridge between our aerospace customers and our various internal departments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Customer Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for major aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers; manage customer expectations, deliver progress reports, and have a full grasp on the status of the program manager's statement of work.
• End-to-End Program Ownership: Oversee the entire lifecycle of manufacturing programs, ensuring on-time delivery (OTD) and adherence to strict quality and cost targets.
• Production Planning & NPI: Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) meetings; partake in daily production meetings, and collaborate with production scheduling, engineering, and programming to ensure manufacturing readiness.
• Supply Chain Coordination: Partner with purchasing to manage outside processing vendors (e.g., heat treating, anodizing, non-destructive testing) to eliminate lead-time bottlenecks.
• Risk & Change Management: Proactively identify material and hardware shortages, capacity constraints, or technical risks; implement recovery plans.
• Quality Alignment: Work directly with the Quality Department to ensure compliance with AS9100 standards, customer flow-down requirements, First Article Inspections (FAIR/PPAP), and non-conformance resolutions.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience: Preferably, at least 1-3 years in aerospace manufacturing, or a related field.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of CNC precision machining operations, blueprint reading, GD&T, and aerospace manufacturing processes.
• Regulatory Familiarity: Knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems, ITAR compliance, and aerospace traceability requirements.
• Software Proficiency: Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems for scheduling, tracking, and job costing, alongside high proficiency in Microsoft Excel, and other Office products.
• Small-Shop Agility: Proven capability to wear multiple hats, shift priorities quickly, and maintain strong interpersonal relationships on a small production floor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related business field.
• Experience with aerospace OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers is a plus.

We are an aerospace machining and manufacturing business, supplying detail machined parts and assemblies to multiple customers in the aerospace industry (commercial aircraft, business jet aircraft, Space, and defense).