Program Manager - Aerospace & Defense

About the role

Destinus develops Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for government agencies and defense organizations worldwide. As Program Manager, you will lead complex, strategically important programs from contract award through delivery, balancing customer expectations, business performance, operational execution and long-term growth. The role sits at the intersection of technology, production, finance and customer success, and involves driving program strategy, managing financial performance, mitigating risks and building strong customer relationships while coordinating teams across engineering, production, supply chain and business functions.

Key responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of strategic programs, from contract award through delivery, aligned with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Manage program financial performance, including P&L responsibility, forecasting, budgeting, cost control, margin optimization and financial reporting.
• Develop and execute program strategies that balance customer requirements, technical objectives, commercial goals and operational constraints.
• Act as the main point of contact for customers, government stakeholders, partners and internal leadership.
• Identify and proactively mitigate risks across technical, operational, financial, contractual and supply chain areas.
• Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, production, procurement, quality and operations.
• Monitor performance through KPIs, milestones and financial metrics, and drive corrective actions.
• Support contract negotiations, change management and commercial discussions, and ensure compliance with contracts, regulations and governance standards.
• Promote continuous improvement to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Aerospace, Industrial Management or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in program management, senior project management or business management in aerospace, defense, manufacturing or highly regulated industries.
• Aerospace and defense industry experience is mandatory.
• Proven P&L management experience, including budgeting, forecasting and profitability.
• Experience managing large, complex programs with multiple stakeholders and international teams.
• Production and industrial environment experience, with knowledge of manufacturing processes and supply chain.
• Strong customer-facing experience, including executive-level stakeholder management and contract execution.
• Fluency in English; additional European languages are an advantage.

Required skills

• Deep understanding of risk management methodologies and program governance frameworks.
• Strong commercial acumen, balancing technical, operational and financial priorities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and leadership skills.

The selection process includes security screening and requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG). Destinus describes itself as a fast-paced, high-growth company with a global team of engineers.