Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Company: AVT Simulation Industry: Flight Simulation, Aerospace & Defense Training Systems Location: Flexible / HQ-based with travel Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Position Overview The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for translating AVT Simulation's strategy into disciplined operational execution across manufacturing, engineering, program management, supply chain, and customer delivery. This role is critical to ensuring scalable growth, on-time program performance, and operational excellence while maintaining the high quality and reliability required for flight simulation and training systems. The COO will partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to optimize internal operations, improve margins, strengthen delivery predictability, and support AVT Simulation's long-term growth across military, commercial, and international markets. Key Responsibilities: Operational Leadership · Lead day-to-day operations across engineering, manufacturing, integration, program execution, supply chain, quality, and sustainment support · Establish scalable operational processes that support growth while maintaining compliance with aerospace and defense standards · Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational discipline Program & Delivery Excellence · Ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of complex flight simulation and training programs · Oversee program management rigor, risk management, cost control, and lifecycle execution · Partner with engineering and production teams to improve schedule predictability and throughput Manufacturing & Supply Chain · Optimize manufacturing operations, supplier performance, and material flow to support complex, low-volume/high-mix production environments · Strengthen supply chain resilience, vendor management, and cost control · Implement lean manufacturing and operational efficiency initiatives Financial & Performance Management · Own operational KPIs including margins, throughput, cost performance, and capacity utilization · Work closely with Finance to improve forecasting accuracy, cost visibility, and operational decision-making · Drive margin expansion through productivity improvements and operational leverage Leadership & Talent Development · Build, develop, and retain high-performing operational leadership teams · Align organizational structure, incentives, and performance management with business objectives · Foster collaboration across engineering, programs, and customer-facing teams Customer & Stakeholder Engagement · Act as an executive point of contact for key customers on delivery, performance, and program execution · Support business development and capture efforts by ensuring operational credibility and execution confidence · Partner with government, commercial, and international customers to ensure satisfaction and long-term relationships Qualifications & Experience Required Experience · 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in aerospace, defense, flight simulation, or complex engineered systems · Prior experience as a COO, VP of Operations, or equivalent senior operational role · Demonstrated success leading engineering-to-manufacturing environments with long-cycle programs · Strong background in program management, supply chain, and operational execution · Experience operating in regulated environments (AS9100, ISO, FAA, DoD, or similar) Preferred Experience · Direct experience with flight simulators, training devices, or mission-critical simulation systems · Experience supporting military, defense, or government contracts · Exposure to international programs and customers · Experience scaling operations in a growing or transformational organization Leadership Attributes · Strategic thinker with a strong bias for execution · Data-driven, metrics-oriented decision-maker · Collaborative leader who can bridge engineering, operations, and commercial teams · Comfortable operating in ambiguity and managing competing priorities · Hands-on, visible leader with high personal accountability Success Metrics (First 12-24 Months) · Improved program delivery performance (schedule, cost, quality) · Increased operational efficiency and margin performance · Stronger cross-functional execution and communication · Scalable operational foundation to support growth and new program wins