The Program Manager for Life Support & Cabin Air Systems is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of programs involving critical airborne environmental systems such as oxygen supply, CO₂ removal, pressurization, and air filtration for commercial or military aircraft and space platforms. This role bridges engineering, supply chain, operations, and customer-facing functions to ensure these life-critical systems meet all technical, schedule, cost, and compliance requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead multidisciplinary programs involving life support and cabin air quality systems, including oxygen generation, ventilation, pressurization, and contaminant control
Own program scope, milestones, and deliverables from proposal through development, qualification, production, and sustainment
Coordinate across engineering (mechanical, systems, thermal), manufacturing, quality, and regulatory teams to drive integrated execution
Manage program risk, change control, and mitigation planning, especially for mission-critical systems with high reliability demands
Oversee the development and review of system requirements, validation strategies, qualification plans, and certification documentation
Engage with customers, regulatory authorities (FAA, EASA, DoD), and internal stakeholders to ensure transparent communication and alignment
Track program cost, schedule, and performance using tools such as Earned Value Management (EVM), risk registers, and program dashboards
Support technology roadmap planning for next-generation life support systems (e.g., onboard oxygen generation, closed-loop air recycling, smart sensors)
Lead recurring status reviews, customer briefings, and design milestone events (PDR, CDR, TRR)
Ensure compliance with standards such as FAR/CS 25, DO-160, MIL-STD-810, AS9100, and ISO 14644 (clean air and cabin air quality)
Key Focus Areas:
Program execution for oxygen, ventilation, and cabin pressurization systems
Risk, schedule, and cost management across the product lifecycle
Regulatory and safety compliance for life-critical aerospace systems
Customer and supplier coordination across technical and contractual interfaces
Support for airworthiness certification and mission-readiness
Qualifications & Skills:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or related technical field (required)
Advanced degree (MS or MBA) or PMP certification strongly preferred
Experience:
10–15+ years of experience in aerospace environmental or life support systems
5+ years of program or project management experience in a regulated, multidisciplinary environment
Prior experience working with oxygen generation, air filtration/purification, or cabin ventilation technologies is highly desirable
Familiarity with both commercial (Part 25) and defense (MIL-STD) platforms a plus
Technical Skills:
Strong understanding of ECS/life support system architectures and safety-critical development practices
Proficient in MS Project, JIRA, or other project tracking tools; working knowledge of configuration and requirements management systems (e.g., DOORS)
Experience with qualification and test methods for air systems, including DO-160 and MIL-STD test regimens
Soft Skills:
Strategic thinker with strong leadership and decision-making capabilities
Excellent communicator capable of leading cross-functional teams and interfacing with executive stakeholders
Organized, resilient, and capable of managing multiple high-complexity projects concurrently