Aerospace Project Manager Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Project Manager

Job Description:

We are seeking a Project Manager to join a rapidly expanding Navy sustainment and lifecycle support organization. The successful candidate will play a vital role in supporting post-delivery sustainment programs for naval assets, as vessels enter service and require ongoing operational support globally. This role demands a highly autonomous professional adept at managing complex government programs and relationships with Navy customers in a startup-like environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead sustainment and lifecycle support activities for Navy and DoD assets.
• Manage scope execution, cost performance, schedule management, risk mitigation, and customer satisfaction.
• Oversee global fleet sustainment requirements.
• Maintain project performance metrics and develop recovery plans for schedule, cost, and performance risks.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for government stakeholders and lead Integrated Product Team (IPT) meetings with Navy and DoD customers.
• Present program status, risks, corrective actions, and financial performance.
• Communicate technical issues to engineering teams and government customers.
• Manage a network of subcontractors supporting global sustainment operations.
• Coordinate with repair and maintenance providers, marine service contractors, logistics providers, OEM equipment suppliers, and consulting firms.
• Ensure vendors meet cost, schedule, quality, and performance requirements and resolve supplier performance issues.
• Manage programs under Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contracts, monitor financial aspects, and ensure compliance with government contract regulations.
• Develop forecasts, EACs, variance analyses, and management reporting.
• Support program audits and financial reviews.
• Work closely with scheduling teams to maintain detailed project-level schedules using Microsoft Project.
• Track milestones, resources, and dependencies, and monitor Earned Value Management (EVM) performance indicators.
• Coordinate engineering investigations, support reliability assessments, and manage engineering changes impacting sustainment.
• Coordinate ABS inspections and certifications, manage purchase orders, and track corrective actions from inspections.

Essential Skills:

• Experience in program or project management within U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, defense contractors, military sustainment programs, or aerospace (Ideally 10-15+ years demonstrated).
• Proven experience managing Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contracts.
• Working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and government compliance requirements.
• Experience managing subcontractors, service providers, logistics vendors, and technical suppliers.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), cost management, budget forecasting, schedule management, variance analysis, and risk management.
• Experience leading discussions with Navy customers, government program offices, and defense stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong preference for candidates from naval shipbuilding, ship repair, marine fabrication, fleet sustainment, or naval maintenance programs.
• Acceptable transferable industries include aerospace sustainment, defense aviation, military vehicle programs, heavy defense manufacturing, defense logistics operations, and large government service programs.
• Nice-to-have experience includes Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), provisioning and spares management, technical publications/maintenance manuals, and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certifications.

Work Environment:

This is an onsite position located in the Portland Vancouver area. Candidates must be local and open to walking ships or the manufacturing floor when necessary. The role offers the opportunity to be part of a growing team related to a recently won Navy contract. Non-local talent will be given consideration if supremely qualified and ready to relocate.

#LI-MH3

This is a Permanent position based out of Vancouver, WA.

The pay range for this position is $115000.00 - $130000.00/yr.

holiday PTO 12% bonus 401k match

This is a fully onsite position in Vancouver,WA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 2026.

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