Full-Time

Material Program Manager 3

Posted on 3/26/2026

AeroVironment

AeroVironment

1,001-5,000 employees

Designs and manufactures unmanned defense drones

Compensation Overview

$97.7k - $138.6k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Simi Valley, CA, USA

In Person

Occasional travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally.

US Citizenship Required

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Forecasting
Risk Management
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Organizational or Business Management, Engineering or related discipline and a minimum of 8+ years of Supply Chain Program support in an engineering development or production environment or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
  • Masters degree and 6 years experience
  • Strong leader with demonstrated project management skills
  • The position requires an individual who is persistent in influencing others to execute their responsibilities on time and escalates as required to achieve schedules
  • Prior work experience with Material Forecasting
  • Negotiations experience
  • Commitment to obtain MPM or PMP (Project Management Professional) certification after experience in the role
  • Excellent communication skills, leadership abilities, and the ability to work in an IPT environment
  • A self-starter, capable of achieving organizational and program objectives, and able to interface with all levels of internal management, Supplier management
  • Excellent time management skills and the ability to assign the appropriate priorities to the many tasks that they will be required to perform
  • U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required
  • Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally
Responsibilities
  • Participate in the generation and execution of the Supply Chain Program strategy and plan for assigned development programs
  • Participate in planning, execution, and reporting of material and labor budgets, earned value management, EAC (Estimate at Completion reporting), and AOP (Annual Operating Plan) commitments
  • Generate Basis of Estimate and perform Cost Account Manager duties for Supply Chain labor
  • Responsible for Supply Chain risk assessment and execution of mitigation plans to ensure Availability (AV) is able to meet Customer delivery requirements
  • Manage Subcontractor pricing and schedule as required to support AV proposal process and contract performance
  • Plan and manage a dynamic material and services delivery forecast
  • Ensure Supply Chain is included and consulted with for development programs, serve as liaison between development teams and Supply Chain
  • Collaborate with Supply Chain functions and monitor performance metrics and proactively act to address program and functional issues
  • Capable of generating supplier risk and opportunity management plans
  • Support leadership reviews, including Gate Reviews, Monthly Operations Reviews, Program Reviews, and Customer Reviews
  • Represent Supply Chain in Integrated Program Team (IPT)
  • In charge of Bill of Materials Management
  • Work with internal and external stakeholders to drive resolution of material shortages
  • Provide support needed to ensure delivery of Program Supply Chain objectives
  • Other duties as assigned
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with Oracle or similar ERP or MRP system software
  • Experience in the Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
  • Demonstrates strong analytical skills
  • Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
  • Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
  • Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
  • Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
  • Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

AeroVironment designs and builds unmanned aerial systems for defense, ranging from small drones to high-altitude aircraft. Its products include reconnaissance drones and loitering munitions, which can fly autonomously or with minimal human input to gather intelligence or deliver payloads. The company differentiates itself through a long history in aerospace, a broad product portfolio, and strategic acquisitions that expand capabilities in AI, robotics, and space systems, such as Tomahawk Robotics and BlueHalo, plus its contribution to NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter. Its goal is to advance autonomous systems across air, ground, and space to keep military personnel out of harm’s way and to shape the future of unmanned tech.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Monrovia, California

Founded

1971

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • US Army awards $14.6M VAPOR CLE contract for Medium Range Reconnaissance in 2026.
  • LOCUST laser gains FAA validation at White Sands for domestic counter-drone use.
  • Halo_Shield modular architecture integrates Switchblade, LOCUST via AV_Halo software.

What critics are saying

  • Anduril displaces VAPOR CLE in Army MRR Tranche 2 within 12 months.
  • ITAR restrictions block LOCUST, Halo_Shield exports to NATO allies by 2027.
  • Supply chain failures delay Switchblade production, incurring Army penalties in 18 months.

What makes AeroVironment unique

  • Pioneered loitering munitions with Switchblade drones for US Army since 2007.
  • Developed Raven, Wasp, Puma UAS as standard for DoD tactical reconnaissance.
  • Founded in 1971 by Paul MacCready, leader in lightweight autonomous systems.

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Benefits

Health, Dental, & Vision

Health Savings Account

401(k) Account

Alternative Work Schedule

Educational and Tuition Assistance Programs

Employee Assistance Program

Sick Leave Donation

Time Off

Travel Assistance

Company Sponsored Events

Company News

Business Wire
Apr 9th, 2026
AeroVironment appoints Dr Robert Smith as chief operating officer to scale manufacturing

AeroVironment has appointed Dr Robert Smith as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective 13 April 2026. Smith will oversee the company's Autonomous Systems and Space, Cyber and Directed Energy business units, as well as global operations and manufacturing. Smith joins from Raytheon, where he served as Vice President of Radio Frequency Solutions, overseeing a multi-billion-dollar radar and electronic warfare business. He previously held executive roles at Lockheed Martin, BWXT and CAES. The appointment reflects AeroVironment's focus on scaling manufacturing to meet rising customer demand and strengthening operational execution. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a PhD from Auburn University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 7th, 2026
US Navy selects AeroVironment to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services

AeroVironment has been selected by the US Navy to provide Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance services. The company will compete with other industry partners to deliver turnkey ISR capabilities as part of the Navy's initiative to modernise its operations. AeroVironment will deploy its JUMP 20-X Group 3 Vertical Take Off and Landing unmanned aerial system to support various land and marine missions. The company also recently launched LOCUST X3, a third-generation high-energy laser weapon system designed to neutralise unmanned aerial system threats. AeroVironment develops and manufactures drones, unmanned systems and AI-powered technologies for defence applications, serving government organisations and business companies.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 6th, 2026
Ondas secures $50M+ border demining deal after $175M Mistral merger and Palantir AI partnership

Ondas Holdings has secured a border demining contract with initial orders of $15.8 million and follow-on work expected to exceed $50 million. The project forms part of Israel's $1.7 billion Eastern Border Security Barrier Initiative, a 500-kilometre national effort to upgrade the eastern frontier. The contract follows Ondas' recent $175 million merger with Mistral, a defence prime contractor with access to over $1 billion in US Army and Special Operations Command contracts. Days earlier, Ondas announced a strategic partnership with Palantir Technologies to integrate AI across its drone and robot platforms. Ondas raised its 2026 revenue guidance to at least $375 million, nearly sevenfold from 2025's $50.7 million. The company's subsidiary 4M Defence will deploy AI-powered robotics and autonomous systems for mine clearance operations beginning in the coming weeks.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 4th, 2026
AeroVironment wins $117M Army contract and Navy ISR deal as legal probe targets finances

AeroVironment has secured multiple defence contracts, including a US Navy award for contractor-owned ISR services using its JUMP 20-X drone system and a $117 million US Army contract for P550 long-range reconnaissance UAVs. The company also unveiled its LOCUST X3 high-energy laser weapon system. However, the defence technology firm faces legal scrutiny as Pomerantz LLP investigates potential securities law violations following weaker fiscal 2026 results and a goodwill impairment linked to a US Space Force programme. The Navy ISR award strengthens AeroVironment's contract pipeline and revenue visibility for fiscal 2026, but concerns persist around margins, goodwill write-downs and BlueHalo integration. Optimistic analysts project revenue could reach $2.9 billion by 2028, though rising defence budget pressures and export controls pose risks.

Armada International
Mar 27th, 2026
AeroVironment debuts Locust 3X high-power counter-drone.

AeroVironment debuts Locust 3X high-power counter-drone. March 27, 2026 AeroVironment showcased its latest version of the high-energy Counter Drone Laser weapon, the Locust 3X, at the AUSA Global Force 2026 event held in Huntsville, Alabama, from 24 to 26 March. The weapon system represents the newest development from the BlueHalo team, which was acquired by AeroVironment in May 2025. High-power directed energy, particularly lasers, has been regarded as one of the promising technologies for countering smaller Group 1, 2, and 3 unmanned aerial drones. The high-energy laser offers the potential to engage multiple targets in rapid succession, thus enabling it to address attacks by drone swarms. With the laser beam traveling at the speed of light, it can also hit drones manoeuvring and moving at high speeds. Additionally, a laser weapon can continue engaging targets as long as it has power; it is not limited by the number of rounds, as with conventional missile or gun systems. The Locust 3X is a 25kW-30kW laser, modular beam director. It includes integrated electro-optics for search, identification, and tracking. This third-generation design adds AI capability and automation to detection, tracking, and engagement. The system is intended to address not only smaller Group 1 and 2 drones but also larger Group 3 combat drones. The latter includes the Iranian Shahed and Russia's Geran drones, which have been prominent on recent battlefields. Locust 3X features a modular design that can be adapted for various missions and applications. It can serve as a fixed ground mount for base or airfield protection or operate in a mobile configuration on a JLTV or squad vehicle. The US Army is developing lasers through its Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) and Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) prototype programmes. Aaron Westman, a Senior Director of Business Development at AeroVironment and former employee of BlueHalo, stated that the company is involved in both projects. AeroVironment states it plans to commence full system testing and evaluation in the coming months. However, it notes that all of its subsystems have been tested individually, which helps to ensure a smoother transition to the complete system. Additionally, early versions of the system have undergone field tests, including soldier hands-on operation, which have been incorporated into this latest edition. by Stephen W. Miller

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