What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Manager position at Midwest Aero Support, LLC.- A Diatom Capital Company?
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Midwest Aero Support was founded in Rockford, Illinois, in 1990 by Brent Johnson, a 16-year aerospace veteran who saw a critical need for quick, high-quality, and affordable repairs for regional airlines.
In 2007, MAS relocated to its current 45,500-square-foot facility in Machesney Park, Illinois—more than triple the size of the original location—providing the foundation for expanded services and future growth.
In June 2025, MAS became part of Diatom Capital’s aerospace portfolio, combining its proven expertise with the strength and resources of Diatom’s global network.
Today, MAS proudly partners with more than 60 airlines and dozens of additional customers worldwide, delivering trusted repair solutions with the same commitment to quality that has defined the company since its founding.
This position is on-site at the Machesney Park, IL manufacturing site with travel as needed to customers and sites.
Summary Leads the planning, sourcing, quoting, and technical coordination of electronic and electromechanical components and assemblies used in commercial and military products. Owns the full lifecycle of supplier engagement, cost management, and cross‑functional execution to ensure compliant, on‑time, and cost‑effective delivery of engineered materials and FAA Repairs.
Responsibilities
- Business Development: Identify and capture new opportunities within the commercial and military sectors.
- Relationship Management: Act as the "face of the company" for Tier 1 OEMs and military procurement officers.
- Market Analysis: Monitor industry trends in avionics and electromechanical systems to anticipate customer needs.
- Pricing Strategy: Develop competitive pricing models by calculating labor, material costs, and overhead while maintaining target margins.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluate lead times and technical feasibility, especially for obsolete or "hard-to-find" electronic components.
- Program ownership — Manage schedules, deliverables, risks, and budgets for assigned hardware programs involving electronic and electromechanical parts and assemblies.
- Planning & forecasting — Develop material plans, long‑lead strategies, and procurement roadmaps aligned with engineering, production, and customer requirements.
- Sourcing & supplier management — Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers capable of meeting commercial and military standards; drive competitive quoting, cost negotiations, and contract alignment.
- Technical coordination — Analyze RFQs (Request for Quotes). Work as an engineer with the team to create and interpret drawings, specifications, BOMs, and change notices; ensure suppliers understand technical requirements and manufacturability constraints.
- Quoting & cost analysis — Prepare RFQs, analyze supplier proposals, perform cost breakdowns, and recommend sourcing decisions based on price, lead time, capability, and compliance.
- Compliance oversight — Ensure materials and suppliers meet applicable regulatory and customer requirements, including ITAR, DFARS, MIL‑STD, RoHS, FAA, AS9100 and quality system standards.
- Issue resolution — Lead root‑cause investigations for supplier issues, delivery risks, or engineering changes; drive corrective actions and maintain program continuity.
- Cross‑functional leadership — Coordinate with engineering, quality, supply chain, contracts, and manufacturing to maintain alignment and resolve obstacles throughout the program lifecycle.
- Documentation & reporting — Maintain program dashboards, procurement status, risk logs, and configuration control documentation; provide updates to leadership and customers.
- Continuous improvement — Identify opportunities to streamline sourcing workflows, reduce cost, improve supplier performance, and strengthen technical collaboration.
Qualifications
- Experience managing programs involving electronic components, PCBs, harnesses, electromechanical assemblies, or precision mechanical parts.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
- Background in procurement, supply chain, or engineering within commercial, aerospace, or defense environments.
- Familiarity with military standards, export controls, and quality requirements.
- Ability to lead cross‑functional teams, manage multiple priorities, and communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, BOM management, and project management tools.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.
Soft Skills
- The "Negotiator" Mindset: Able to pivot between selling a value proposition to a client and negotiating better terms with a supplier.
- Acute Attention to Detail: In aviation, a single wrong digit in a part number or a missing certification can ground a project.
- Pressure Management: Comfortable hitting month-end sales targets while managing supply chain bottlenecks.