Senior Project Manager

Overview

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation, a global Aerospace and Defense supplier for over 100 years, is a leader in the design and manufacture of precision motion control products and inertial navigation components. Kearfott has a very long history of innovation and excellence and is the go-to brand for many of our global clients. Kearfott is trusted, respected and plays a vital role in the success of America’s aerospace and defense industries.

With over a century of expertise & experience, Kearfott is dedicated to providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide to meet their sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements.

We are looking for talented individuals who want to be part of a world-class work force. Join Kearfott and become part of a company that is recognized for technical expertise and respected world-wide as a ‘full service’ provider.

For more information visit our website at

Senior Project Manager – Guidance & Navigation

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for executing complex inertial navigation and guidance projects across development, qualification, production, and sustainment. This role is intended for an experienced professional who has progressed through an engineering career such as systems, electrical, mechanical, or software engineering—and has served as an engineering lead or technical lead prior to assuming full project management responsibility.

The position leverages deep technical understanding to drive disciplined execution, effectively bridge engineering and operations, and lead cross-functional teams delivering mission-critical navigation and guidance systems.

Technical Program Leadership

• Lead Guidance & Navigation projects involving INS, IMUs, gyroscopes, accelerometers, navigation electronics, and integrated guidance solutions.
• Apply prior engineering and technical leadership experience to guide technical decision-making, trade studies, and issue resolution.
• Translate system requirements and technical risks into executable program plans and schedules.
• Serve as the primary technical and programmatic interface between engineering teams, operations, and customers.

Engineering & Cross-Functional Execution

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams including systems engineering, hardware and software engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and test.
• Chair and actively participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), leveraging hands-on engineering background to challenge assumptions and ensure technical rigor.
• Ensure alignment between engineering design intent and manufacturing execution.

Planning, Schedule & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain integrated master schedules (IMS), budgets, and resource plans tied to engineering and production milestones.
• Apply earned value management (EVM) or similar performance metrics where required.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, cost, schedule, and supply-chain risks inherent to precision navigation and guidance systems.

Financial & Contract Management

• Manage program budgets, forecasts, and cost controls to meet margin, cash, and delivery objectives.
• Support proposal development, cost estimates, and schedule builds for new and follow-on Guidance & Navigation programs.
• Manage contract changes, scope adjustments, and customer-directed engineering modifications.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary program interface to government and commercial customers, with the technical credibility to discuss system design, performance, and qualification.
• Prepare and deliver program and technical status briefings to customers and Kearfott senior leadership.
• Support customer audits, design reviews, and qualification activities.

Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure programs comply with AS9100, configuration management, and applicable aerospace and defense standards.
• Drive disciplined execution, lessons learned, and continuous improvement across engineering and program management processes.
• Mentor engineers and junior program managers transitioning into technical leadership or program roles.