Program Manager – Aerospace & Defense

About the role

As a Program Manager at Destinus you will lead complex, strategic programs that shape the future of unmanned aerial vehicle technology for defense customers. You will operate at the crossroads of technology, production, finance and customer success, ensuring each program meets its schedule, budget and performance goals.

Key responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of strategic programs from contract award through delivery.
• Manage program financial performance, including P&L, forecasting, budgeting, cost control and margin optimization.
• Develop and execute program strategies that balance customer requirements, technical objectives and commercial goals.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with customers, government stakeholders and internal leadership.
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks across technical, operational, financial, contractual and supply‑chain domains.
• Lead cross‑functional teams across engineering, production, procurement, quality and operations.
• Monitor program performance through KPIs, milestones and financial metrics, driving corrective actions as needed.
• Support contract negotiations, change management and commercial discussions throughout the program lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory and company governance standards.
• Drive continuous‑improvement initiatives to enhance execution efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration or a related field.
• Proven experience managing large‑scale aerospace or defense programs.
• Strong financial acumen with responsibility for program P&L.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent risk‑management and problem‑solving capabilities.

Required skills