Senior Finance Analyst - Financial Planning and Analysis

Performance Drone Works (PDW) is building the next generation of tactical robotic systems used across defense, national security, and public safety missions. We are building a new center of engineering excellence to design our new category of tactical robotic systems and the industrial capacity to deliver them, bringing decisive airpower into the hands of every operator. We are not here to make promises; we are here to deliver real systems with real capabilities for real missions.  

You will join a team of operators, engineers, and builders who solve hard problems with humility and focus. We design and produce multi-mission aerial systems that operators trust to perform in real-world conditions, reliably, repeatedly, and at scale. Our approach is grounded in operator-centered design, rapid iteration from field use, and U.S.-based manufacturing. We operate by a clear set of values: Mission First, Aim Farther, Own It, Win Together. This is how we build advantage and how we help protect our service members, our communities, and our country. 

Now, we’re entering a new phase of growth and are looking for a Senior Finance Analyst to own the planning, forecasting, and performance management cadence for operating expenses, capital expenditures, and headcount. Reporting to theManager of FP&A, this individual will partner directly with department leaders, Accounting, People Operations, and other stakeholders to translate business plans into accurate forecasts, actionable performance insights, and disciplined investment decisions. 

This is a forward-looking FP&A and business partnership role rather than a technical accounting or controllership position. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between detailed financial schedules, executive-ready reporting, cross-functional discussions, and practical decision support in a rapidly scaling hardware and manufacturing environment. 

WhatYou’llDo

• Own the monthly and quarterly OpEx and CapEx review process, including analysis of actual results versus budget, prior forecast, and prior-year trends, with clear identification of key drivers, risks, andopportunities. 

• Prepare recurring variance reports and executive-ready commentary for functional spend areas, translating detailed activity into clear financial insights and recommended follow-up actions. 

• Partner with department leaders and budget owners to support budget management, headcount planning, spend pacing, and accountability against approved plans. 

• Coordinate quarterly forecast updates for OpEx, CapEx, and headcount, including collecting inputs, challenging assumptions, updating schedules, and rolling changes into the broader company forecast. 

• Support the annual budgeting process for operating expenses and capital expenditures, helping convert business plans into realistic targets, phasing assumptions, and operating guardrails. 

• Maintain and refine the OpEx and CapEx components of the company’s long-range model, including department-level assumptions, investment timing, depreciation inputs, and related scenario analysis. 

• Track capital projects and approved investments against budget, timing, and business case assumptions; partner with accounting and relevant stakeholders on capitalization timing and forecast accuracy. 

• Support spend and commitment approval workflows by validating budget availability, cost-center and project coding, and alignment with approved plans. 

• Build and maintain headcount, vendor, and project-level analyses that improve visibility into spend drivers, cost efficiency, and emerging budget pressures. 

• Partner with accounting during the monthly close to understand accruals, reclasses, and actuals trends that affect OpEx and CapEx forecasting accuracy. 

• Help improve planning templates, reporting packages, data quality, and finance tooling so the FP&A process becomes more scalable, timely, and decision-useful over time. 

• Support ad hoc analyses related to cost optimization, hiring tradeoffs, investment prioritization, facilities and equipment spend, and other operating decisions as needed. 
  

Requirements 

• 3–6 years of relevant experience in FP&A, corporate finance, strategic finance, finance business partnering, or related roles with strong analytical and operating exposure. 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience. 

• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills, with the ability to build and maintain driver-based schedules, reconcile actuals, and produce clean, decision-useful outputs. 

• Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and monthly reporting in a dynamic business environment. 

• Comfort working directly with non-finance stakeholders and translating financial concepts into practical guidance for budget owners. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear commentary and present issues in a structured, credible way. 

• High attention to detail, strong follow-through, and the ability to operate independently with a high degree of ownership in a fast-changing environment. 

• A collaborative, low-ego operating style and a willingness to dig into the details while keeping sight of the broader business context. 
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher, as required.
  

Preferred 

• Experience in a hardware, manufacturing, operations-heavy, or high-growth environment where spend, headcount, and investment planning require close coordination across teams. 

• Direct experience with headcount planning, capital expenditure tracking, or project-based investment analysis. 

• Exposure to ERP, procurement, HRIS, or FP&A systems that support forecasting, reporting, and budget management. 

• Experience building reporting packages or dashboards that improve visibility into operating expense and capital spend trends. 

• Background supporting leaders through a monthly or quarterly business review cadence, including preparation of variance commentary and action-oriented recommendations. 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift/carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, and phones. Must be physically capable of walking between the office and production areas and attending events or meetings off-site as needed 

Work Environment

This position typically operates in a standard office and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard engineering and manufacturing equipment and may require occasional travel to customer locations or facilities. This position may have exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, and non-climate-controlled environments. May require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the environment. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross departmental collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard works hours for this position are 8:30am-5:00pm with occasional overtime as operational needs demand. 

Benefits

PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company.
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• On-site gym at Huntsville, AL & Denver, CO locations.
• Employer provided life insurance.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• A work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options.

EEO Statement 

PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.   

This position will have an annual salary and benefits. The salary range provided is a guideline rather than a fixed limit. Individual pay is determined by factors including geography, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.