Program Director, Flight Control Systems

Virgin Galactic - Tustin, CA

Full-time - Senior

Tustin, CA

Air Transportation

About the position

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Program Director to lead both the strategy and tactical execution for flight control systems. This role will lead a team of engineers and program managers, manage multiple suppliers, and integrate with other development teams. The scope includes development and testing of the fly by wire flight control system, including flight control computers, actuators, pilot inceptors, control laws, and sensors. The responsibilities will span the entire lifecycle, from conceptual design to flight test and commercial operations. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience with aircraft or spacecraft flight control systems and/or avionics development. The Program Director will be responsible for delivering flight control system program commitments on schedule and budget while meeting technical objectives. This includes building, leading, and mentoring a team responsible for developing and delivering the Flight Control Systems for the next generation of Spaceships and Motherships. The role also involves managing the cost and schedule within the planned budget, creating budget forecasts to support corporate and program planning, and being responsible for the program and technical strategy, including make/buy decisions, risk management, and supplier selection. Additionally, the Program Director will represent the flight controls team and product to program and executive leadership, integrate with other program teams such as avionics, airframe, flight sciences, and flight test to ensure successful execution of each team's scope, and lead the team through milestone reviews ensuring technical adequacy and programmatic success. The role requires being a change agent for successfully removing roadblocks and enabling efficient communication and coordination amongst various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver flight control system program commitments on schedule and budget while meeting technical objectives.
• Build, lead and mentor a team responsible for developing and delivering the Flight Control Systems for the next generation of Spaceships and Motherships.
• Manage the cost and schedule within planned budget.
• Create budget forecasts to support corporate and program planning.
• Responsible for the program and technical strategy, including make/buy decisions, risk management, supplier selection, etc.
• Represent the flight controls team and product to program and executive leadership.
• Integrate with other program teams, such as avionics, airframe, flight sciences, and flight test, to ensure successful execution of each team's scope.
• Lead team through milestone reviews ensuring technical adequacy and programmatic success.
• Be a change agent for successfully removing roadblocks, and enabling efficient communication and coordination amongst various stakeholders.

Requirements

• Must have a B.S. or M.S. in an Engineering discipline from an accredited university.
• Has successfully led teams/products through product lifecycle, including requirements, design, qualification, and deployment.
• Strong experience building and managing schedules and budgets for development programs.
• Experience managing supplier partners from RFI's to delivery.
• Strong risk management and risk mitigation tools skillset.

Nice-to-haves

• Understanding of systems engineering and design assurance processes for safety critical systems such as ARP-4754, DO-178, and/or DO-254 desired.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace system development, integration, or test.

Benefits

• Full range of medical benefits
• Financial benefits
• Other benefits dependent on the position offered