Program Manager

About the role

This Program Manager position at Hera Technologies represents a full-time, on-site opportunity located in Irvine, California. It is designed for a proactive leader who will act as the critical bridge between high-level program strategy and shop-floor execution. In this role, you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of complex thermal protection systems and aerospace hardware programs. Your primary mission is to translate strategic objectives into tangible results by navigating internal departments to expedite jobs, mitigate risks, and resolve bottlenecks. This position demands more than schedule tracking; it requires active leadership to ensure that technical milestones for mission-critical defense and space applications are met with unwavering commitment to quality. You will be a subject matter expert in program flow, driving advanced material designs from R&D through high-rate manufacturing while maintaining data integrity and serving as a key technical liaison for customers and partners. By providing data-driven insights and maintaining a hands-on presence in the manufacturing environment, you will take full responsibility for driving program objectives to resolution, ensuring that stringent performance, safety, and environmental requirements are met at every stage of production. Every action you take will be guided by the mission of protecting vital structures and systems, from Engine Bay to Payload.

What you'll do

You will provide proactive leadership across the entire program lifecycle for defense and space hardware initiatives, ensuring seamless execution from initial engagement to final delivery. A core responsibility is to expedite jobs and resolve production bottlenecks by coordinating in real time with engineering, supply chain, and quality departments. You will interpret complex customer requirements and translate them into detailed manufacturing plans and process specifications that guide the shop floor. Maintaining rigorous data integrity within ERP systems is essential to ensure accurate scheduling, inventory tracking, and cost control.

As the central technical liaison between the Program Management Office (PMO), production teams, and external partners, you will perform hands-on monitoring of production workflows to identify risks and implement corrective actions swiftly. You will drive advanced material designs from the R&D phase through to high-rate manufacturing and final delivery, ensuring all activities adhere to strict performance, safety, and environmental compliance standards. This role involves analyzing operational metrics and generating reports that provide actionable insights for continuous process improvement. You will support the development and execution of shop floor procedures that align with mission-critical aerospace standards and facilitate cross-functional communication to align technical milestones with delivery schedules and customer expectations.

Your responsibilities will also include managing workflow adjustments dynamically to meet urgent customer demands without compromising quality. You will champion a culture of excellence by mentoring production staff on best practices and program objectives, maintaining a visible presence on the production floor to ensure alignment between strategic plans and operational execution. You will leverage expertise in thermal protection systems and aerospace hardware to support problem-solving and innovation within the production environment. Every interaction will be focused on delivering mission-critical solutions that meet or exceed program objectives while adhering to regulatory requirements. Your work will directly impact the reliability and performance of systems that safeguard vital aerospace structures, reinforcing Hera Technologies' commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

To be considered for this role, you must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship and must reside in California. A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Program Management, or a related technical field is mandatory. You must possess previous experience in aerospace, defense, or a regulated manufacturing environment, demonstrating expertise in program management methodologies and tools. A proven track record of managing complex thermal protection systems or similar hardware programs is essential.

You must be highly proficient in ERP systems and data management practices, with strong interpersonal skills to serve as a liaison between technical and operational teams. You are expected to maintain meticulous attention to detail and adhere to strict compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements that protect vital structures and systems. All applicants must meet these stated requirements without exception. The position involves collaboration with customers, partners, and cross-functional internal teams, requiring excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities. You must demonstrate a passion for advancing aerospace technology and a commitment to excellence that aligns with Hera Technologies' core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation. This role is critical to ensuring that mission-critical programs progress efficiently from concept through completion, safeguarding the integrity of aerospace and defense systems worldwide.