Manufacturing Program Manager for UAS New Product Introductions
DZYNE Technologies
Full-time
On-site
Irvine, California, United States
$160,000 - $210,000 USD yearly
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Our Culture
DZYNE Technologies is leading the future of autonomous defense. Based in Irvine, California, we develop and manufacture advanced airborne and ground-based defense solutions deployed in over 50 countries. Backed by U.S. Government Programs of Record, our technologies are field-proven, scalable, and production-ready. We’re growing fast and are looking for innovators ready to make an impact. At DZYNE, you’ll join a culture built on collaboration, integrity, and purpose. We celebrate wins, value diverse perspectives, and support every team member’s success.
Ready to do work that matters? Join us.
Position: Manufacturing Program Manager for UAS New Product Introductions
Department: Manufacturing Operations
Location: Irvine, CA
Position Summary:
We are seeking a Manufacturing Program Manager for UAS New Product Introductions (NPI). This role will lead the transition of cutting-edge aerospace technologies from prototype to initial low-rate initial production (LRIP) levels - for DZYNE unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This role will serve as the central point of coordination across product management, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to enable smooth and efficient transition into rate manufacturing production. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of cross-functional collaboration, production readiness planning, and technical operations program execution in a high-complexity environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead new product introduction (NPI) manufacturing program management for DZYNE’s UAS portfolio, working in collaboration and coordination with Product Lines, Program Offices, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
- Lead cross-functional teams in the transition of UAS products from R&D and prototyping into scalable low-rate initial production (LRIP) that sets up successful production.
- Create and manage project timelines and budgets.
- Oversee the development of assembly methods, work instructions, and acceptance testing protocols aligned with product requirements.
- Collaborate with product teams to establish production goals and translate those into subsystem-level requirements for internal and external teams.
- Develop and track program milestones, deliverables, and readiness gates across the product introduction lifecycle.
- Facilitate design-for-manufacturing (DFM) reviews and incorporate feedback into engineering change management.
- Identify and mitigate risks across technical, schedule, and cost dimensions.
- Drive issue resolution and root cause investigations, including corrective actions to ensure continuous improvement.
- Support factory readiness, tooling procurement, and onboarding of production resources.
- Foster strong communication between Engineering, LPO, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to ensure alignment on goals and constraints.
Required Qualifications:
- Proven experience leading cross-functional teams in the aerospace, defense, or high-tech manufacturing industries.
- Deep understanding of new product introduction (NPI) processes, including prototyping, validation, and ramp to production.
- Strong background in program or project management, ideally in complex electromechanical systems or aircraft platforms.
- Experience with manufacturing readiness, including tooling, documentation, and process controls.
- Demonstrated success in troubleshooting and incident investigations, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills in cross-disciplinary environments.
- Working knowledge of engineering documentation, change control, and production planning systems.
- Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, configuration managements, and BOM management.
- Demonstrated knowledge of working inside a documented Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Preferred Skills/Qualifications:
- Experience in manufacturing engineering.
- Experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies, to include certifications and training
- PMP certification or equivalent program management training
- Knowledge of IPC standards and aerospace/defense quality standards (AS9100, ISO 9001).
- Exposure to automation or semi-automation in assembly/test environments
- Familiarity with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), low-cost expendable platforms, or airborne ISR systems.
Education / Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math)
- Must have Aerospace or Defense Contractor industry experience
- Minimum of 5+ years of industry experience as a Program Manager or Manufacturing Operations overseeing production program execution while ensuring that programs meet client quality, schedule, technical and budget objectives.
- Experience transitioning from prototype to low-rate initial production (LRIP) to rate production.
- Skilled in the use of IT tools, including ERP, MRP, and Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project.
- Experience generating basis of estimates to support proposal generation and capture
- Experience managing a range of concurrent projects and product lines is required.
- Proven ability, capacity, and aptitude with planning, organizing, supervising, coordinating technical work, and obtaining cooperation from others (must be able to build rapport with program and operations staff)
Clearance Level Required: No
Travel: No regular travel requirements. Ad-hoc travel to suppliers or other DZYNE sites may be required
Working Conditions:
Physical Demands:
Other Requirements: It is an essential requirement for the person in this role to have a legal right to work in the United States and be eligible to obtain any required Export Authorization.
Salary: $160,000- $210,000 annually
Salary depends on relevant work experience, education, training, essential skills, and/or other factors such as specialized or high-demand professions. In addition to the annual salary, the position will be eligible for an annual bonus. The pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of salary or annual bonus.
Benefits:
Our benefits are DZYNE’ed for your overall health and financial wellness. DZYNE provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, employee life and accidental death, and disability, with all premiums for our employees paid for by DZYNE Technologies. DZYNE provides paid time off and paid holidays. Additionally, DZYNE offers a 401K plan with an employer match.
DZYNE Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, DZYNE Technologies complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which our company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.