Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

 

Summary

The Director, Product Line Management designs, develops and leads activities for a specific group of products for AeroVironment, including planning through production release and end of product life. This position communicates and facilitates relationships with customers, owns the roadmaps with internal teams, partners with executive and strategy teams, and works daily with Program Management and Engineering. Will define creative, high quality, simple roadmaps for missions, products, and capabilities to achieve the company’s strategic goals.

Position Responsibilities

Holds complete responsibility, accountability, and authority for cognizant AeroVironment (AV) product lines including financial performance and growth.Leads specific product lines through entire lifecycle, sunrise to sunset.Provides leadership on new product introduction activities with engineering and operations and ensures alignment with the Go-to-Market plansEffectively balances customer and business needs when planning and retiring productsManages, trains, coaches, mentor’s other product line managersEstablishes, communicates, and achieves buy-in for product line strategiesWorks with customer programs to manage new pursuits and contract negotiationsAble to provide guidance and direction for new business pursuits and proposal efforts Collaborates with Marketing and Business Development to define product pricing, promotion, placement, and preferred featuresCollaborates with stakeholders to develop Product RequirementsConsults with CTO office and/or engineering on latest technologies and their inclusion within AV product roadmap(s)Manages prioritization and trade-offs among projects to effectively lead the AV portfolio, achieve a balance of products, and address resource needsInterfaces and collaborates with customers to understand concept of operations and problemCreates buy-in for the product vision both internally and with key customersLeads fiscal year budgeting for product line R&D and sustainment activities and holds budget accountability for their respective product linesEvaluates addressable markets, risks, opportunities, and competitors to support current and future business pursuitsProvides leadership guidance to the execution teams working within the product lineEstablishes, tracks, and analyzes product line performance metrics and takes action to address issues and/or opportunitiesEnsures project and customer data is protected in accordance with ITAR, security classification guides and company proprietary information proceduresManages organizational and/or customer conflicts, finds a win-win for the business and the customerActs independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments. May supervise the activities of others.Evaluates and establishes efficient policy and procedures for the Product Line team, consistent with AeroVironment’s Quality Management SystemsChange leader and drives efforts to improve product development, manufacturing, cost and quality.Active listener who can effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholdersAnticipates world events and can develop solutions, or mitigations, to address possible scenariosOther duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

Bachelor’s degree is required in engineering or in a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.Advanced degree, MBA or MS is highly preferred.Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience required.Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a leadership role.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

Previous experience as a Sr Manager, Product Line Manager preferredExcellent written and verbal communication skillsStrong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasivelyDemonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationshipsUses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstancesInspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employeesBrings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared visionChampions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of changeTakes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasksIs committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the companyFocuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and R&D environment (Constant)Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and keyboard (Frequent)Requires travel to sites/program and special functions (Frequent).

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain government security clearanceMust be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.

Clearance Level

 

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$176,000 - $249,480

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR