Role Overview
Resource Industries is seeking an experienced Project Manager UAV Program to lead a MALE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform through advanced validation, certification readiness, production transition, and operational deployment phases.
This role requires a seasoned professional capable of managing complex aerospace programs, coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, and ensuring delivery against performance, safety, quality, and regulatory objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead program execution across advanced validation, qualification testing, certification preparation, and production transition.
- Plan and oversee extended flight trials, reliability assessments, and performance optimization activities.
- Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, budgets, risk registers, and milestone tracking.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including aerodynamics, avionics, software, propulsion, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality assurance.
- Interface with stakeholders, partners, regulatory authorities, and senior management.
- Drive design refinements and structured change management based on testing data and stakeholder inputs.
- Ensure compliance with aviation regulations, export controls, and internal quality standards.
- Manage vendor selection, supplier qualification, and manufacturing readiness.
- Monitor KPIs related to reliability, cost, schedule, and certification progress.
- Plan and manage transition from limited production to scaled manufacturing and deployment.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of proven project or program management experience in UAV, aerospace, or aviation programs, with direct exposure to fixed-wing aircraft or unmanned systems.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Strong understanding of UAV subsystems including avionics, propulsion, flight control systems, communications, and payload integration.
- Experience working with certification processes, regulatory engagement, and compliance frameworks.
- Proficiency in structured project management methodologies and tools (PMBOK, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent).
- Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary technical teams and external vendors.
Preferred Skills
- PMP or equivalent project management certification.
- Experience with defense, government, or dual-use aerospace programs.
- Familiarity with flight test campaigns, airworthiness documentation, and qualification standards.
- Exposure to aerospace manufacturing, supply chain scaling, and quality systems such as AS9100.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and risk-management capabilities.
