AV · 2 months ago
Product Line Director
Moorpark, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$176K/yr - $249K/yr
15+ years expAeroVironment (AV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems. The Product Line Director will design, develop, and lead activities for specific product lines, ensuring alignment with company strategies and managing the entire product lifecycle from introduction to retirement.
AerospaceAir TransportationDronesElectric VehicleElectronicsEnergyGovernmentManufacturing
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Holds complete responsibility, accountability, and authority for multiple SUAS product lines
Leads specific product lines through entire lifecycle, sunrise to sunset
Provides leadership on new product introduction activities with engineering and operations and ensures alignment with the Go-to-Market plans
Effectively balances customer and business needs when planning and retiring products
Trains, coaches, mentor’s other product line managers
Establishes, communicates, and achieves buy-in for product line strategies
Works with customer programs to manage new pursuits and contract negotiations
Able to provide guidance and direction for new business pursuits and proposal efforts
Collaborates with Marketing and Business Development to define product pricing, promotion, placement, and preferred features
Collaborates with stakeholders to develop Product Requirements
Consults with CTO office and/or engineering on latest technologies and their inclusion within SUAS product roadmap(s)
Manages prioritization and trade-offs among projects to effectively lead the SUAS portfolio, achieve a balance of products, and address resource needs
Interfaces and collaborates with customers to understand concept of operations and problem
Creates buy-in for the product vision both internally and with key customers
Leads fiscal year budgeting for product line R&D and sustainment activities and holds budget accountability for their respective product lines
Evaluates addressable markets, risks, opportunities, and competitors to support current and future business pursuits
Provides leadership guidance to the execution teams working within the product line
Establishes, tracks, and analyzes product line performance metrics and takes action to address issues and/or opportunities
Ensures project and customer data is protected in accordance with ITAR, security classification guides and company proprietary information procedures
Manages organizational and/or customer conflicts, finds a win-win for the business and the customer
Acts independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments. May supervise the activities of others
Evaluates and establishes efficient policy and procedures for the Product Line team, consistent with AeroVironment’s Quality Management Systems
Change leader and drives efforts to improve product development, manufacturing, cost and quality
Active listener who can effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
Anticipates world events and can develop solutions, or mitigations, to address possible scenarios
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Minimum of 15+ years' relevant experience
Experience taking 3 major systems to market in a low rate or full rate production environment
Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results – is a self-starter and self-directed
Demonstrated experience managing profit and loss in a technology company
5+ years experience managing development budgets
Experienced in, and is comfortable with, presenting to executive leadership
Experienced in product road mapping, R&D, and product sustainment activities
Knowledge of UAS systems and products, with a track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously
Experience managing a departmental budget
Experience with delivering mature systems to Domestic and International customers
Experience managing the work of others and job tasking
Familiarity with managing Profit/Loss
Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency with office productivity software
Experience creating and building teams through the use of leadership attributes
U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain government security clearance
Preferred
Advanced degree preferred
Leads with rapid agility to deal with shifting priorities, demands, and timelines
Leads by example and fosters a culture of leadership and teamwork
Displays strong critical thinking skills, demonstrated ability to analyze and break down problems into components
Exhibits exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
Benefits
Medical
Dental vision
401K with company matching
A 9/80 work schedule
A paid holiday shutdown
Company
At AV, we build shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers, delivering systems shaped by real-world missions, not theoretical requirements.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.68B2025-07-01Post Ipo Equity· $875M
2025-07-01Post Ipo Debt· $650M
2023-09-19Post Ipo Equity· $109.01M
Leadership Team
Wahid Nawabi
Chairman, President & CEO
Johnathan Jones
Senior Vice President
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