Program Manager

Description

G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.

Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognized for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defense industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years.

We’re looking for an experienced leader in engineering program management to help our growing, world-class custom optics and optical subsystem business. The ideal candidate is an optics industry veteran with deep knowledge of the specialty custom optic business. Prior experience managing aerospace & defense projects and interacting with A&D customers is imperative; experience in higher-level program and product management is also highly desirable.

The candidate must be a charismatic, problem‑solving, solutions‑oriented team player. This is an important role reporting directly to the Product Line Director and represents a unique opportunity to help craft the culture and program management processes for a growing, stable business. The successful candidate will work on complex problems and exciting opportunities that enable technologies in current and future cutting‑edge defense and commercial optical systems.

• Lead cross‑functional teams of engineers and operations personnel to develop, define, and execute project plans, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Ensure revenue projects achieve profitability targets. Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and financial risks throughout the program lifecycle.
• Coordinate cross‑functionally to ensure customer requirements are well understood by engineering and operations; coordinate engineering design development with functional leads.
• Partner with Operations to define the Statement of Work (SOW) and specifications for subcontracted processes (e.g., substrate blanks, precision machining, thin‑film coating, specialized metrology).
• Manage project scope and changes; coordinate with Contracts and Sales to ensure project changes are captured appropriately.
• Own the customer relationship from award through delivery: provide clear communication, status, and issues/risk resolution to high‑end commercial, aerospace, military, and government organizations.
• Present comprehensive program status (schedule, cost, risk, quality) to internal and external stakeholders; produce customer‑required reports and contractual deliverables (CDRLs) for custom optics projects.
• Drive feasibility studies, vendor selection, and proposal development for evaluation by key stakeholders; initiate investigations into new technologies when necessary.
• Drive resolution of quality issues requiring customer input; ensure shipped product meets specifications and quality goals; support product road‑map development and marketing efforts as needed.
• In a high‑mix/low‑volume environment, orchestrate sequencing, capacity, and material plans to meet OTD, lead‑time, and yield targets while supporting frequent engineering change (ECN/ECO).

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (required) — Mechanical, Manufacturing, Optics/Photonics, Electrical, or related.
  Master’s degree is a plus.
• 10+ years of related experience in program management for optics/
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Project (or equivalent) and standard program management toolsets.
• In‑depth knowledge of optical systems engineering and optical fabrication flows (grinding/polishing, coating, interferometry/metrology, and opto‑mechanical assemblies).
• Customer relationship management experience with A&D primes/government customers, including briefings and formal reviews.
• A demonstrated drive for ambitious results and accountability to business needs; proven ability to work cross‑functionally to achieve common objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal and…