Program Manager

Job Summary:

Tata Elxsi is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to head its Transportation Business Unit, with a focus on Aerospace. This role demands a strategic thinker with deep technical expertise and a proven track record in delivering complex engineering programs. The ideal candidate will drive business growth, ensure delivery excellence, and foster a high-performance culture that aligns with Tata Elxsis mission to accelerate innovation and operational efficiency in the aerospace sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Transportation Business Unit with full ownership of delivery, business strategy, and growth.
• Manage end-to-end delivery of aerospace engineering projects, ensuring adherence to ARP4754 (systems), DO-178C (software), and DO-254 (hardware) standards.
• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) program management, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and high-quality deliverables.
• Build, mentor, and retain high-performing project teams to ensure seamless execution across client engagements.
• Establish and optimize operational processes, project governance, and performance metrics to meet revenue, profitability, and utilization targets.
• Conduct regular project audits to ensure SLA compliance, quality, and risk mitigation.
• Maintain and expand strategic customer relationships; lead new business acquisition initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams including sales, operations, and technical practices to align delivery with business goals.
• Implement frameworks for scalability, security, and performance optimization to ensure customer satisfaction.

Leadership & Strategy:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to drive business growth and operational excellence.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute long-term growth strategies for the business unit and the organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement.
• Lead change management initiatives and instill a high-performance, customer-centric culture.
• Develop a strong leadership pipeline to support future growth and succession planning.
• Align internal initiatives with the broader strategic objectives of the organization.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Education:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Aerospace, or related fields).
• MBA or equivalent business management qualification is preferred.
• Certification in PMBOK or equivalent project management methodologies is an advantage.

• Experience:

• 15+ years of experience in engineering delivery and program management.
• Proven track record in managing P&L, large-scale engineering programs, and customer engagements in the aerospace domain.
• Hands-on experience with global clients and managing cross-functional teams.

• Technical & Managerial Skills:

• Strong understanding of aerospace standards (ARP4754, DO-178C, DO-254).
• Expertise in project governance, risk management, and quality assurance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to translate strategic goals into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.

Preferred Attributes:

• Agility:

  Demonstrates speed in decision-making and execution.

• Visionary Thinking:

  Thinks big and embraces bold ideas.

• Transparency:

  Builds trust through open communication and collaboration.

• Collaboration:

  Fosters teamwork and cross-functional synergy.

• Ownership:

  Takes initiative and delivers with accountability and excellence.

• People Development:

  Invests in team growth, learning, and capability building.

• Customer-Centricity:

  Deep commitment to understanding and delivering on customer needs.

• Transformational Leadership:

  Inspires innovation, drives change, and builds high-performing teams.