Onsite Lead (Program Management & Digital Engineering)

Location: – San Diego, CA / HybridExperience: 12–15 YearsNationality: US CitizenMust Have : Strong background working with Aerospace clients (MRO- Maintenance Repair & Overhaul, engineering workflows, or operations). Position OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Onsite Lead / Program Management & Digital Engineering Specialist to be based at our client’s location San Diego, CA / Hybrid. The role requires strong client-facing experience, end-to-end coordination with customer stakeholders, and the ability to translate business requirements into actionable tasks for offshore engineering and development teams.The candidate will support a strategic Aerospace MRO program focused on building an advanced MRO Work Order Scheduling solution usingGenerative AI, Operations Research algorithms, and modern cloud & data engineering technologies. The role requires strong understanding of project/program management, cross-functional collaboration, and engineering domain awareness. Key ResponsibilitiesClient & Stakeholder ManagementServe as the primary onsite point of contact for all client interactions.Engage with business, engineering, and IT stakeholders to understand goals, timelines, dependencies, and constraints.Manage expectations, clarify open points, and ensure consistent communication across teams.Program & Project ManagementDrive project planning, tracking, and reporting in alignment with PMI knowledge areas (Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Risk, Communication, and Stakeholder Management).Coordinate with offshore teams for timely delivery, issue resolution, and status reporting.Facilitate requirement workshops, sprint planning, risk assessments, and milestone reviews.Ensure alignment with the client’s governance processes, compliance requirements, and quality standards.Technical Coordination Understand and translate client requirements related to:MRO processes and work order managementGenerative AI-based scheduling solutionsOperations Research algorithms such as Critical Path Method (CPM), Critical Chain Method (CCM), heuristic scheduling, and optimization approachesCollaborate with technical teams in Data Science, Data Engineering, Cloud Engineering, and Software Engineering.Review functional and technical deliverables to ensure business alignment.Requirements ManagementCapture, document, and validate functional and non-functional requirements.Convert high-level problem statements into well-structured requirements and user stories.Proactively identify gaps, dependencies, constraints, and integration points.Delivery OversightMonitor progress across all workstreams and ensure smooth interaction between onsite and offshore teams.Track deliverables, quality KPIs, and timelines and escalate risks or issues appropriately.Support UAT planning, execution, and feedback integration. Mandatory Skills & QualificationsExperience12–15 years of total professional experience in Project/Program Management, Digital Engineering, or IT Services.At least 5+ years in client-facing onsite roles, preferably in the USA.Strong background working with Aerospace clients (MRO, engineering workflows, or operations).Technical Knowledge Working knowledge of:Data Science concepts (predictive models, optimization, ML workflows)Data Engineering (ETL pipelines, data models, SQL, cloud data platforms)Cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP – fundamentals)Software Engineering basicsAI & Optimization Awareness Exposure to:Generative AI solutionsOperations Research methods (CPM, CCM, heuristics, optimization models)Scheduling or planning systemsProject/Program ManagementStrong understanding of PMI frameworks, artifacts, and governance.Experience in managing multi-location delivery teams.Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Nice-to-Have SkillsPMI certifications: PMP / PgMP / PMI-ACPUnderstanding of aviation standards or MRO-specific workflowsExposure to MCP (Model Context Protocol), AI agent-based systems, or analytics platformsExperience working in engineering service environments similar to Cyient, Tata Elxsi, LTTS, Infosys Engineering, etc.Familiarity with scheduling tools and enterprise workflow systemsAbility to build BRDs, FRDs, and solution documentation Behavioral CompetenciesStrong executive presence and ability to engage senior stakeholders.Proactive, self-driven, and capable of working with minimal supervision.Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.High accountability with a collaborative approach across teams. EducationBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).Certifications in project management or cloud technologies are an advantage.