Program Manager, Tactical Uncrewed Air Systems
Position Title: Senior Program Manager, Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS)
Organization: The AIRO Group (Nasdaq: AIRO)
Division: AIRO Drones
Location: McLean, VA HQ / Hybrid
Reporting Structure: Vice President, AIRO Drones
The AIRO Advantage: Trailblazing the Next Frontier
The AIRO Group is a publicly traded, mid-market aerospace and defense powerhouse driving the convergence of autonomy, advanced avionics, and electric air mobility. We are not just a technology company; we serve as an indispensable pillar of the modern defense industrial base—an Arsenal of Democracy delivering integrated, AI-driven capabilities directly to the tactical edge.
Our uncrewed systems are combat-proven in the most complex, GPS/GNSS-denied environments on the globe. Following our highly successful 2025 public listing and armed with a robust balance sheet of over $74 million in liquidity, we are rapidly scaling our U.S. manufacturing footprint to execute against a massive, $150 million order backlog. From the battle-tested RQ-35 Heidrun to our newly unveiled RQ-70 Dainn vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform, AIRO is delivering the attritable, lethal mass required by US modern warfighters and NATO allies. We invite visionary leaders to join our McLean, VA headquarters and shape the future of autonomous defense architecture.
The Role: Strategic Leadership at the Speed of the Mission
As the Program Manager for UAS, you will serve as a central strategic architect bridging the gap between advanced aerospace engineering, high-volume manufacturing, and operational battlefield deployment. You will exercise co-ownership over the cost, schedule, and technical performance of our most critical uncrewed platforms, ensuring that AIRO’s systems maintain their dominance in the multi-domain combat cloud.
This role requires a leader who can operate with commercial technology agility while navigating the uncompromising realities of sovereign government procurement and stringent defense compliance. You will lead cross-functional matrixed teams, interface directly with Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders, and translate complex warfighter requirements into actionable, accelerated product roadmaps.
Responsibilities:
We measure success by impact and outcomes, not just daily activities. In your first 18 months, you will be evaluated against your ability to deliver the following strategic imperatives:
Strategic Objectives & Measurable Deliverables:
Mission-focused Manufacturing Scale-Up
- Translate operational needs into program priorities and ensure delivered capabilities meet mission requirements.
- Support the end-to-end program execution for the domestic production scale-up of the RQ-35 Heidrun and the transition-to-production of the RQ-70 Dainn at our 40,000 sqft.+. Phoenix, AZ Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Regulatory & Defense Certification
- Serve as the program authority driving the RQ-35 and subsequent platforms through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Blue UAS clearance process, ensuring strict National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliance and supply chain traceability.
DoD Fielding & Procurement
- Navigate FAR/DFARS and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) frameworks to transition prototype successes into established Programs of Record (PoRs), directly supporting autonomous initiatives like Drone Dominance.
Cyber-Resilience, Sensor and AI Integration
- Partner with specialized vendors to ensure the seamless integration of Zero Trust architecture, edge AI, and sensor fusion upgrades into the drone’s command-and-control (C2) software stack.
Margin & Safety Optimization
- Establish data-driven Earned Value Management (EVM) dashboards to maintain a 0.0% critical safety incident rate while optimizing unit economics and component sourcing across the global supply chain.
Business Development
- Support customer engagements and demonstrations tied to active programs (not primary capture role) and identify opportunities to expand or scale existing programs based on mission success.
Desired Qualifications & Expertise:
To successfully execute this mandate, candidates must possess a unique blend of technical depth, defense ecosystem fluency, and executive leadership capability.
Competency Areas & Required Qualifications
Educational Foundation
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field. A Master’s degree (MS, MBA) from a top-tier institution or equivalent is highly preferred.
Professional Certification
- Active Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent defense acquisition certification (e.g., DAWIA PM Level II/III) preferred.
Leadership Track Record
- 10 to 15 years of progressive leadership experience in the aerospace, defense, or advanced technology sectors, with a verifiable history of scaling autonomous systems, robotics, or UAS programs.
Defense Ecosystem Fluency
- Deep, tactical understanding of the U.S. defense procurement and regulatory ecosystem. Extensive experience managing government technology certifications (BlueUAS) and contracts as well as a mastery of DoD acquisition frameworks (FAR, DFARS, OTAs, CSOs).
Domain & Regulatory Expertise
- Comprehensive knowledge of FAA UAS regulations (Part 107 and BVLOS waivers), aerospace quality standards (AS9100), and cybersecurity compliance requirements (NIST 800-171, CMMC Level 2).
Security Credentials
- Must possess an active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher strongly preferred) to facilitate classified program oversight and facility access.
Executive Presence
- Exceptional ability to distill complex engineering and operational data into clear, strategic narratives for C-suite executives, military flag officers, and international coalition partners.
Why Join The AIRO Group?
This is a rare opportunity to bypass the bureaucracy of legacy defense primes and take immediate, high-visibility ownership of combat-proven platforms that are actively reshaping modern warfare. AIRO offers highly competitive compensation benchmarked to elite technical markets, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to build a legacy within a rapidly expanding, publicly traded aerospace innovator.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
- Standing and sitting for extended periods of time,
- Lifting up to 25 pounds in a safe and prudent manner,
- Ability to work and communicate well with other employees and management,
- Ability to perform work utilizing manual dexterity of the hands,
- Ability to push, pull, bend, stoop, reach above and below shoulders, and full use of upper extremities,
- Ability to easily move through an approximately 25,000 square foot warehouse building,
- Ability to read, write, and understand English,
- Correctable vision and hearing.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee may also be asked to perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor as required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
COMPANY BENEFITS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees and their families, including:
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Parental Leave
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- 401(k) with company match
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- AFLAC hospital
- Basic Life Insurance – fully paid by the company for employees and their dependents
- Long-Term Disability Insurance – fully paid by the company
- Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance options
Our goal is to provide benefits that promote health, financial security, and work-life balance.
The AIRO Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $150,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in McLean, VA 22103
