Project Manager (Contract)
Job role insights
Date Posted
September 16, 2026
Employment Type
Full Time
Salary Range
Negotiable
Cost of Living
View details for Columbus
Locations
Application Deadline
October 16, 2026
Description
Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at USCareers@airbus.com
Job Description:
Aere you ready to lead high-stakes aircraft maintenance and repair programs for a global leader in vertical flight? Airbus Helicopters is seeking a Project Manager to own the end-to-end execution of our aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) projects.
Operating at the intersection of operations, engineering, and customer relations, you will ensure critical aircraft repair campaigns and customer contracts are delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the highest technical standards.
This position is a temporary (contract) position with no specific time period but could be extended or shortened as needed. Contractors are employed by a 3rd party vendor and placed on assignment to Airbus in America.
Meet the team:
From building to servicing the next generation of aerospace, our team focuses on quality, productivity and efficiency. We ensure the highest quality of care and safety is built into each aircraft we assemble and maintain. Our team members make it happen.
Your working environment:
On the eastern border of Mississippi you’ll find Columbus, home to our Helicopter manufacturing and assembly lines and Center of Excellence for the entire North America region. It’s here that we produce the UH-72A Lakota Helicopters for the U.S. Army in addition to the H-125 aircraft for civil and commercial customers.
Your Challenges:
Key Project Management: 60%
- Lead aircraft maintenance and repair programs involving multifunctional teams.
- Align business objectives and contract requirements with engineering, operations, procurement, and repair site resources.
- Establish landmarks and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules, proactively identify problems and develop solutions such as allocation of resources or adjusting contractual specifications.
- Drive performance to plan and achieve schedule, delivery, and financial commitments.
- Propose and run customer agreements/contracts.
- Create weekly communication routines with all interested parties for ongoing contracts.
- Represent our company with our customers and lead programs to meet contractual requirements, including delivery schedules, cost, and technical specifications.
- Lead teams to address program risk and issues; create, maintain and drive action plans to closure.
- Establish Repair Campaign plans and re-plans including capacity assessments and operator maintenance schedules.
Performance & Offers Management: 30%
- Develop a business capture plan in collaboration with the sales team.
- Propose offers aligned with financial performance targets and the AH Group strategy.
- Aid in the development of a reliable and financial OP.
- Create and maintain reliable aircraft metrics for financial performance, customer satisfaction, and to measure forecasting traceability and accuracy.
- Develop and implement forecasting and planning schedules.
- Track schedules to ensure 100% on-time completion.
- Identify problems that impact timely delivery, ability to achieve margins, or are areas of inconsistency in the business.
- Keep the project team, customer, and leadership informed on changing project landmarks.
Subcontractor Management: 10%
- Focal point for all subcontractor interaction.
- Coordinate activities with subcontractors to assure schedules & needs are communicated and adhered to.
- Coordinate activities between subcontractors and supporting functions, such as spares supply management, supporting back shop activities and design office support.
- Monitor subcontractor performance, such as schedule adherence and quality performance.
- Ensure adherence to supplier improvement and action plans as needed.
- Receive/approve subcontractor proposals & invoices for projects.
- Conduct periodic program performance and subcontractor performance reviews.
- Mitigate discrepancies and resolve issues to facilitate project success.
- Track data results including burn downs and projections and facilitate resolution of open issues.
Your Boarding Pass: (Required for consideration)
- Must possess a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Program Management field, or equivalent (4) years of applicable experience.
- Have at least four (4) years of experience in project management within a production or technical environment.
- Financial experience for budgeting purposes.
- Technical experience to comprehend technical data packages.
- Ability to break complex issues down into manageable work packages.
- Strong crisis management skills; and even stronger planning skills to prevent crises.
- Proven Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite skills.
- Some SAP knowledge, or similar.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in aircraft completions or maintenance and repair.
- Knowledgeable in FAA regulations.
- Project/Program Management Certification.
- A&P certification.
- An understanding of the aerospace industry, basic aircraft design, mission equipment packages (law enforcement, emergency medical services, utility etc.), and design and certification (FAA) processes & regulations.
Travel Required:
- Minimal- 10% Domestic and International.
Citizenship:
- Authorized to Work in the US without current or future need for visa sponsorship.
Clearance:
- None.
Physical Requirements:
- Onsite or remote: 90 % Onsite in Columbus, MS.
- Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily.
- Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily.
- Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily.
- Equipment Operation: able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily.
- Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Weekly.
- Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Weekly.
- Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Weekly.
- Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily.
- Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Weekly.
- Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily.
- Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. 10%-20%.
- Walking: able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily.
- Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site.
- Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.
This position is a temporary (contract) position with no specific time period but could be extended or shortened as needed. Contractors are employed by a 3rd party vendor and placed on assignment to Airbus in America.
Take your career to a new level and apply online now.
A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.
This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Company:
Airbus Helicopters, Inc.
Employment Type:
Agency / Temporary
Experience Level:
Professional
Remote Type:
On-site
Job Family:
Programme & Project Management
Airbus provides equal opportunities to all individuals seeking assignment with Airbus without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in every location in which the company has facilities. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. This assignment description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com.
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AviHire Cost of Living Snapshot: Columbus, Mississippi
What aviation pay actually covers in Columbus — AviHire's snapshot of median income, housing, and everyday prices from U.S. Census Bureau data (2023 5-Year ACS estimates).
Rent runs about 26.1% of median income in Columbus — moderate by the common 30%-of-income guideline.
AviHire Cost of Living Snapshot, compiled from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2023), with fuel and grocery prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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