Head of Programs

From Engine Bay to Payload, we protect vital structures and systems.

Hera Technologies is a premier contract manufacturer specializing in high-precision metallic and non-metallic solutions for the Aerospace, Defense, Space, and Commercial Airline sectors. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has positioned us as an industry leader in the design, manufacturing and maintenance of thermal support systems. Our team is driven by excellence, integrity, and a passion for advancing aerospace technology.

Take the next step in your career with a company committed to excellence, where your contributions are recognized, and your potential is realized.

The Head of Programs is a full-time, on-site executive leadership role located in California, designed for an experienced leader who seamlessly bridges high-level organizational strategy with hands‑on shop‑floor execution. Managing a comprehensive portfolio of complex thermal protection systems and advanced aerospace hardware, you will drive operational excellence by defining macro KPIs, architecting efficient PMO‑to‑production workflows, and leading strategic resource planning and talent acquisition.

This role goes far beyond passive oversight; you will serve as the ultimate escalation point and an active "working manager," partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain leadership to harmonize goals and step directly into the manufacturing environment to resolve systemic bottlenecks, ensure ERP data integrity, and guarantee on‑time delivery for mission‑critical defense and space applications.

As a technical strategist and key growth driver, you will champion the transition of advanced material designs from the R&D phase into high‑rate production while actively supporting business development through proposal leadership and technical trade‑off analyses. The ideal candidate brings over 8 years of progressive aerospace and defense leadership experience, an advanced understanding of high‑intensity manufacturing environments, and exceptional relationship‑management skills to influence executive stakeholders, suppliers, and customers.

By maintaining a strong presence from the executive boardroom to the production floor, you will take full responsibility for portfolio health, risk mitigation, and team efficiency, ensuring the successful execution of aggressive program objectives from initial concept through final delivery.

• Provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and tactical execution across the entire program portfolio, driving team efficiency, managing resource allocation, and ensuring cross‑functional alignment from concept through production.
• Define and monitor high‑level program KPIs, dashboards, and performance metrics to project overall portfolio health for executive leadership and key customers.
• Continuously evaluate program management workflows to eliminate redundancies, introduce industry best practices, and maximize team productivity.
• Lead resource planning, organizational design, and talent acquisition; manage staffing and performance reviews to build a high‑performing team.
• Partner with business development and engineering to support new proposals, providing accurate technical context, resource estimates, and data‑backed trade‑off analyses.
• Partner with leadership across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to harmonize program goals, timelines, and deliverables from concept through production.
• Serve as the escalation point and strategic bridge between the PMO and Production to ensure real‑time schedules and recovery dates are accurate and actionable.
• Represent technical content, program status, and OORs (Open Order Reports) to internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers; oversee the maintenance of customer portals to maximize on‑time delivery.
• Proactively identify and resolve systemic execution bottlenecks across internal departments; step in directly to expedite critical jobs through the shop floor when necessary to maintain strict cost and schedule adherence.
• Oversee and validate ERP system data integrity, ensuring that system milestones…