Deputy Program Manager - Arrowhead

As Deputy Program Manager for the Arrowhead portfolio, you will be an accountable leader for budget, schedule, technical performance, customer satisfaction, and team execution. You will manage integrated master schedules, drive cost and technical performance, and engage directly in failure investigations and root cause analyses. You will interface with Government program offices, prime contractors, and end users, and support cross-functional teams of engineers, technicians, and support staff. This is a hands-on role requiring presence on the flight line, in the lab, and with customers to ensure mission success.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for the Arrowhead portfolio across active contracts and development efforts
• Develop, maintain, and actively manage integrated master schedules (IMS) with real milestones to minimize dependence on purely success-based goals
• Drive cost, schedule, and technical performance to plan; identify and burn down risk before they can be realized
• Support monthly program reviews, CDRs, PDRs, and customer milestone events
• Manage financial baseline and variance analysis to mitigate surprises to leadership or the customer
• Foster technical decision making across the program; understanding the system deeply enough to challenge assumptions and make informed trades
• Partner with Engineering, Flight Test, and Manufacturing to ensure technical requirements are achievable, tested, and delivered
• Promote rapid decision-making when design, test, or fielding issues arise
• Engage directly in failure investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action follow-through
• Interface with Government program offices, prime contractors, and end users
• Communicate status, risks, and issues proactively
• Identify and capture follow-on business, contract modifications, and program growth opportunities
• Represent Griffon at industry events, customer visits, and proposal activities as required
• Cultivate a high-performing, low-ego team that runs toward problems, not away from them
• Establish practices and standards that outlast any single program
• Embody and enforce Griffon's ownership culture: every team member knows their piece and is accountable for it

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
• 3+ years of program management experience in defense aerospace, UAS, or adjacent fields
• Demonstrated track record managing DoD development or production programs from $5M to $50M+
• Hands-on experience with aircraft or UAS systems
• Strong command of program management fundamentals: EVM, IMS, risk management, CDR/PDR processes
• Active Secret clearance (or ability to obtain)
• Comfortable traveling to customer sites, field operations, and test events up to 30%

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Engineering or Business (MBA), or equivalent operational experience
• Direct experience with Group 2–4 UAS programs in development, test, or production
• Familiarity with MIL-STD airworthiness, DO-178/DO-254, or UAS-specific certification pathways
• PMP, DAWIA, or equivalent program management certification
• Prior military aviation or UAS operational background
• Active Top Secret clearance

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and clearance level
• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and 10 federal holidays
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
• A small company where your decisions matter and your fingerprints are on real hardware flying real missions