Program Operations & Scheduling Specialist
Ideal Aerosmith Inc.
Operations
Grand Forks, ND, USA
Posted on Feb 4, 2026
Ideal Aerosmith is a leading supplier of precision inertial guidance test systems, flight motion simulators, innovative defense solutions in support of the warfighter, and a premier provider of aerospace test engineering services, ATE system engineering, and quality contract manufacturing services to the aerospace industry. We're experts and we earn that title everyday with our customers through innovative engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment of world-class motion and electric test solutions and services.
Here, we don’t just solve complex problems - we redefine what’s possible. Every role at Ideal Aerosmith supports a lean culture through continuous improvement - ongoing, incremental enhancements to products, processes, or services aimed at reducing waste and boosting efficiency, customer service, and performance. With a team of skilled problem solvers and a culture that thrives on tackling challenges head-on, we are dedicated to our clients' success. Enjoy competitive benefits, a supportive work environment, and every other Friday off to recharge.
Ideal Aerosmith is seeking a highly organized and execution-focused Program Operations & Scheduling Specialist to support the delivery of advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) programs for U.S. Government customers.
This role is responsible for supporting program execution discipline across scheduling, production readiness, material availability, and delivery tracking. The Program Operations & Scheduling Specialist serves as a central coordination and visibility function, working closely with engineering, production, supply chain, and program leadership to maintain accurate schedules, highlight execution risks, and support on-time milestone delivery.
This position is focused on schedule integrity, production flow visibility, and execution tracking as programs transition from prototype into sustained production, operating under the direction of the Senior Program Manager.
Job Responsibilities
Program Scheduling & Execution
- Develop, maintain, and manage integrated program and production schedules supporting UAV/USV builds, test events, and deliveries.
- Track schedule adherence and identify risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies impacting delivery milestones.
- Provide regular schedule status updates, metrics, and risk assessments to program leadership.
- Support replanning efforts when requirements or priorities shift.
Production & Material Readiness
- Maintain visibility into material availability, build status, and production readiness to support on-time delivery.
- Coordinate with engineering, production, and supply chain teams to ensure required components, documentation, and configurations are available when needed.
- Track readiness of vehicles, subsystems, and test articles through build, test, and delivery phases.
Requirements, Deliverables & Workflow Coordination
- Support tracking and flow of program requirements and contract deliverables in coordination with program management.
- Ensure execution workflows align with program schedules and contractual commitments.
- Maintain traceability between requirements, production activities, and delivery milestones.
Inventory Visibility & Shipping Coordination
- Provide program-level inventory visibility, ensuring leadership understands what is on-hand, in-transit, delayed, or blocking execution.
- Coordinate shipping and receiving activities from a documentation, scheduling, and chain-of-custody perspective (not warehouse labor).
- Support configuration accountability and documentation associated with shipped or received hardware.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Act as a central coordination point across engineering, production, quality, logistics, and program management.
- Facilitate communication to resolve execution issues quickly and maintain alignment across teams.
- Support continuous improvement of scheduling, production tracking, and execution workflows.
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure program execution activities align with Ideal Aerosmith policies, quality standards, and government contract requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, schedules, and reports to support audits and program reviews.
Qualification Requirements
- 3+ years experience in program operations, scheduling, production coordination, or execution-focused program roles.
- Experience supporting government or defense programs is strongly preferred.
- Experience in aerospace, unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing, or prototype-to-production environments is a plus.
- Due to federal contract requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3).
Skill Requirements
- Strong organizational and scheduling skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to identify execution risk and communicate issues clearly and professionally.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Experience working with production schedules, trackers, and cross-functional workflows.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving program environment with minimal supervision.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to execution discipline and accountability.
Physical Requirements
- Must have the ability to lift and/or carry 45 lbs.
- Ability to work for extended periods at computer workstation/keyboard.
- Ability to type accurately and efficiently.
- The position will require walking, standing, squatting, crouching, stooping, lifting, climbing, pulling, pushing, sitting, repetitive motion and kneeling.
Ideal Aerosmith is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our goal is to create a work environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, where all employees feel respected and valued. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and strive to provide equal employment opportunities to everyone.
