Lead Configuration Data Specialist

You In this Role will partner with the Configuration Manager to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and full traceability of product configuration data across the lifecycle. This role owns the control and governance of Bills of Material (BOMs) and associated product documentation, ensuring alignment with engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements. This position provides functional leadership to configuration team members and plays a key role in PLM implementation and optimization efforts, driving consistency, data quality, and scalable process standardization. A Day in the Life No two days will look the same. We are operating within a fast-paced, startup aerospace and defense environment, this role is responsible for building, refining, and enforcing configuration management practices that support rapid product development while maintaining compliance with internal procedures and external regulatory and contractual requirements, including ITAR. The role works cross-functionally to maintain accurate, controlled, and audit-ready product structures and documentation. What You ’ ll Do • Own and manage Bills of Material (BOMs), including creation, revision control, and data integrity within PLM and ERP systems. • Enforce configuration control of all product documentation, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.• Lead execution of the Engineering Change process (ECR/ECO/ECN), ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant change implementation. • Maintain configuration baselines and ensure end-to-end traceability of product structures and revisions. • Validate product data prior to release to downstream functions, ensuring readiness for manufacturing and procurement. • Proactively identify and resolve discrepancies across engineering, BOMs, and ERP records. • Ensure adherence to aerospace/defense standards and ITAR requirements, maintaining strict control of technical data. • Support and lead configuration audits and reviews, ensuring audit readiness. • Drive cross-functional alignment for effective implementation of configuration changes. • Maintain configuration status accounting and reporting for visibility into product changes. • Contribute to and build scalable configuration management processes and data governance frameworks. • Provide leadership, mentorship, and prioritization guidance to configuration team members. • Support and help drive PLM implementation, enhancements, and adoption, including testing, data migration, and process alignment. What You ’ ll Bring • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Information Systems, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. • 5–8+ years of hands-on experience in configuration management, product data management, or PLM in a fast-paced or evolving environment. • Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-level BOMs and product structures within PLM and/or ERP systems. • Strong working knowledge of Engineering Change processes (ECR/ECO/ECN) and ability to adapt them to scaling business needs. • Experience establishing or improving configuration management processes, data governance, and documentation standards. • Familiarity with regulated environments (aerospace, defense, or similar), including exposure to ITAR or export control requirements.• Ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and deliver results with limited structure or oversight. Strongly Preferred • Experience in a startup or high-growth environment, especially scaling systems and processes from early-stage to maturity. • Hands-on experience implementing or significantly enhancing PLM systems (Arena preferred). • Experience integrating PLM with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite). • Background in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries. • Familiarity with AS9100 or similar quality management systems. • CMII or equivalent configuration management certification. • Experience building configuration management practices from the ground up.