Platform/Sys Program Manager

Sr Manager, Program Management (Systems/Platforms)

Woodward's Industrial Business Unit is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead a portion of the PMO responsible for delivering investments across a portfolio of complex hardware and systems development initiatives. This role requires a cross-functional leader who can develop and execute strategies that shape multi-year roadmaps, deliver measurable ROI, and continuously improve product lifecycle processes. The successful candidate is a trusted people leader, clear communicator, and expert in lean product and process development who brings rigor and discipline to physical product development environments.

This role is specifically suited to candidates with a background in hardware, mechanical, or systems engineering-led product development. Candidates whose experience is grounded primarily in software delivery, IT infrastructure, or enterprise systems implementation are unlikely to be a strong fit.

Estimated annual base pay: $140,000-$175,000

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of project and program managers responsible for delivering a product portfolio from concept through customer release
• Partner with the product management team to ensure the project portfolio aligns with P&L business needs and strategic priorities
• Develop and maintain multiyear portfolio roadmaps that reflect resource capacity, market timing, and business value
• Establish and enforce stage-gate governance across the portfolio, applying agile principles selectively where they add value within a hardware development context
• Use data, metrics, and KPIs to assess program performance, establish standard work for project teams, identify trends, and make informed decisions
• Manage interdependencies among programs and projects to ensure coordinated delivery
• Balance resources and priorities across multiple programs to optimize performance
• Manage budgets, financial forecasting, and resource allocation across the portfolio, ensuring cost efficiency and maximum ROI
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks across programs, developing strategies to minimize negative impacts on organizational goals
• Champion change management initiatives and address resistance to new processes during program execution

Key Skills:

• Leadership: Leads with influence, inspires teams, and fosters collaboration across engineering, product management, operations, and commercial functions. Manages cross-functional teams with emotional intelligence and adaptability
• Physical Product Experience: Demonstrated ability delivering products to external customers through engineering-led development processes involving mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering disciplines
• Process Fluency: Able to apply Lean Product and Process Development principles in a stage-gate or hybrid agile-stage-gate environment. Understands the practical limits of agile frameworks in precision manufacturing, capital-intensive, or regulated product development settings
• Portfolio Investment Mindset: Evaluates the portfolio as a collection of capital investments, not just a set of projects to execute. Able to assess strategic fit, challenge business case assumptions, and recommend which programs to fund, defer, or stop based on expected return and resource constraints
• Financial and Resource Management: Experienced managing program budgets, forecasting, and cross-portfolio resource allocation
• Governance: Establishes governance frameworks that ensure accountability, decision-making clarity, and performance tracking without creating bureaucratic drag
• Communication and Influence: Delivers clear communication to executives, program teams, and stakeholders at all levels. Uses negotiation and conflict resolution to align interests and move programs forward
• Stakeholder Engagement: Builds strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including customers, executives, and program sponsors. Proactively manages expectations and ensures alignment

Successful Candidates Will Have:

Experience with operating within long cycle OEM businesses, moving products from concept to release utilizing stage gate or hybrid stage gate processes on physical products

A recognized leader and builder of teams, known for scaling PMOs, developing Program and Project Managers, and creating an environment where people do their best work together across functions.

A business?minded strategist, excited to own outcomeslinking programs to customer value, long?term product strategy, and measurable ROI within a P&L.

A partner to Product Management and senior leadership, shaping and executing multi?year roadmaps that balance customer needs, technical reality, and investment discipline.

A champion of clarity and rigor, using data, standard work, and early risk visibility to improve how decisions are made and how value is deliveredwithout unnecessary bureaucracy.

A trusted change leader and communicator, comfortable influencing at the executive level, aligning diverse stakeholders, and leading organizations through meaningful transformation.

Application window is anticipated to close 7 days from original posting date.

This information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the company's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons.

Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.