Program Associate Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Engineering, Business, or a related fields, or equivalent professional experience including certifications in an aerospace or defense manufacturing environment.
• 4+ years of direct experience in project management, production planning, or technical coordination within the aerospace, defense, or advanced materials industries.
• Direct experience with ERP systems and customer portals, with a proven ability to ensure system data (milestones/delivery dates) aligns with actual shop floor production status.
• Technical familiarity with complex aerospace systems, such as launch vehicles, missile systems, thermal protection systems (TPS), or composite materials.
• Proficiency in project planning and reporting tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or Excel), including the ability to run and analyze data to track job status and backlog.
• Demonstrated experience managing program risk and KPIs, with the ability to develop and execute schedule recovery plans in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills, specifically in managing unreleased/hold lists and expediting jobs through internal departments (Manufacturing, Quality, and Materials).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and external partners without direct authority.
• Comfortable acting as a technical liaison, with the ability to translate customer feedback into actionable tasks and communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to internal stakeholders.
• Experience in a high-intensity manufacturing environment, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and drive tasks from concept through final delivery.
• Willingness to travel to customer sites, test facilities, or partner locations as required to support program integration and execution activities.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher), including meeting all background check and eligibility requirements for access to controlled defense information and facilities. 

• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher) is strongly preferred.
• Deep technical knowledge of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), including experience with launch vehicles, missile systems, soft goods, coatings, and other components designed for extreme thermal environments.
• Subject matter expertise in advanced manufacturing processes related to metallics and superalloys, composites, ablatives, and ceramics used in high-heat aerospace applications.
• Direct experience with qualification and developmental testing (e.g., vibration, thermal vacuum, or high-velocity flow testing), in addition to standard production testing environments.
• Hands-on experience with PLM systems and CAD tools to support engineering collaboration and configuration management.
• PMP or similar project management certification is a plus.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Strong background in customer-facing roles or technical business development, with the ability to manage complex partner and stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated success in transition-to-production, specifically moving advanced material designs from the R&D phase into a high-rate manufacturing environment. 

• Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, dust, and temperature variations.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 35 lb and perform tasks involving standing, walking, bending, and manual assembly.
• Visual acuity required for reading technical drawings, inspecting components, and operating precision instruments. 
• Occasional travel to customer or test sites, including outdoor or industrial settings, with adherence to company and OSHA safety protocols. 
• Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English.

Type: Full Time - Exempt 

Salary Range: $80,000 to $140,000

Schedule: Core business hours, M-F with additional hours as needed

Base Location: Irvine, CA

Travel: Up to 15%