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Location: Irvine, United States of AmericaThales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

Program Demand Specialist

Irvine, CA (Fully onsite)

Position Summary

Thales is looking for a Program Demand Specialist, whose role involves independently managing moderate to complex program demand activities to support delivery commitments with airline customers and aircraft manufacturers. Reporting to the Program Demand Manager, this position applies strong program management judgment to align demand planning, material readiness, and execution schedules, ensuring commitments are met accurately and on time.

In this position, you will analyze requirements, structure and maintain WBS, PBS, and BOMs, and assess their impact on MRP scheduling systems to drive effective planning and risk mitigation. You proactively track deliverables, identify issues, and collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and program teams to resolve challenges. Your ability to communicate status, risks, and recommendations with minimal supervision plays a critical role in continuous improvement of program demand planning processes and overall operational performance.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Serves as the single point of contact for assigned customer programs and associated workstreams, ensuring consistent communication and coordination, while supporting leadership through risk identification, impact assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Develops, maintains, and governs customer project revenue and billing plans, COGS forecasts, ship-set delivery data, and the project program file/portfolio throughout the full project lifecycle to support accurate financial, operational, and demand planning.
• Coordinates and monitors engineering and material readiness, including the release of engineering drawings and technical documentation, timely sourcing and costing of materials, and readiness to meet project deliverables and contractual schedules.
• Tracks and manages project deliverables to ensure execution aligns with contractual commitments, schedules, quality expectations, and Customer On-Dock Dates (CODDs), including coordinating the receipt, validation, and entry of Customer Purchase Orders and resolving discrepancies.
• Ensures accurate system demand and data integrity by managing the timely entry of hardware demand into the Thales ERP system (SAP), proactively resolving rescheduling errors, system inconsistencies, planning variances, and ensuring project deliverables drive accurate demand signals.
• Drives data governance, analytics, and continuous improvement, including establishing validation best practices, analyzing demand trends to improve forecast accuracy, supporting audits, participating in Tiger Teams, and driving process and procedural automation to improve efficiency, scalability, and data reliability.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education & experience foundation: Bachelor’s degree with 5–8 years of relevant professional experience, or an Advanced degree with 3–5 years of relevant experience, supporting independent contribution in complex program and demand-driven environments.
• Technical, financial, and systems expertise: Demonstrated understanding of global supply chain mechanics and interdependencies across demand, inventory, procurement, and cash flow, with ERP experience (SAP preferred). Strong ability to analyze contracts, proposals, technical documentation, drawings, regulatory requirements, and financial reports, including variance analysis across billings, forecast revenue, EAC, COGS, rebates, discounts, credits, and project P&L alignment.
• Program and project management proficiency: Proven capability to manage scope, schedule, risk, technical execution, and financial performance; develop project plans, quality objectives, lessons learned; and support Program Managers in preparing program and financial reviews for senior leadership.
• Communication, influence, and executive presence: Demonstrates effective consulting, negotiation, influencing, and persuasion skills with diverse stakeholders, including clear and professional verbal and written communication and strong executive-level presentation and storytelling capability.
• Analytical problem-solving and tools mastery: Strong strategic, critical, and data-driven thinking with the ability to simplify complex problems, develop practical solutions, and drive implementation to completion. High proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint, MS Teams); experience with Visio, MS Project, or Primavera is a plus.
• Leadership, resilience, and agility: Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional intelligence, integrity, and professional maturity, with the ability to collaborate and lead cross-functionally, challenge the status quo, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous, and multi-national environments.

Special Position Requirements

• Schedule: 40 hours per week – 9/80 schedule (voluntary).
• Physical Environment: Typical office environment.
• Travel: Ability to travel domestically 20% of the time.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

If you’re excited about working with Thales, but not meeting the requirements for this position, we encourage you to join our Talent Community!

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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with [a] criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal law, state law, and local ordinances.

We are an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please contact us at talentacquisition@us.thalesgroup.com.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between

Total Target Cash (TTC) 83,104.58 - 138,507.63 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please reach out to your HR Shared Service, 1st Point)

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

•Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance

•Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period

•Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

•Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program