Director, Program Management Office

About the role

Axiom Space is a human space exploration company, building era-defining space infrastructure and delivering technology-driven solutions that will empower civilization to transcend Earth. The company is pioneering a next-generation orbital settlement that will foster groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity and drive the global space economy of tomorrow.

The Director, Program Management Operations plays a critical role within the Program Management Office (PMO), supporting the delivery of complex aerospace programs and high-visibility business projects. This position ensures alignment between project execution and organizational goals by establishing effective project controls, driving cross-functional coordination, and maintaining strong governance practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the on-time, on-budget delivery of strategic business projects with aggressive timelines.
• Define and document project scope, develop cost estimates, and build detailed project schedules for complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Maintain effective project controls and manage risks, issues, changes, decisions, costs, resources, and timelines, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Support the drafting and negotiation of contracts with suppliers and customers/innovators, ensuring feasible scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines while providing clear, transparent communication of project status, health, risks, and forecasts to leadership and stakeholders.
• Drive team effectiveness by identifying workload priorities, removing obstacles, and facilitating resolution of project-related issues.
• Balance competing project constraints—including scope, quality, schedule, funding, resources, and risk—to ensure project success.
• Serve as an SME to cross-functional teams, collaborating closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Procurement, Mission Services, and other internal partners to meet project objectives.
• Support customer reviews, project documentation, and contract-related activities.
• Apply and maintain agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle where appropriate.
• Maintain standardized tools, templates, and reporting practices to support accurate project tracking.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement that enhance project communication, efficiency, and performance.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree (MBA or MS in Engineering/Management) preferred.
• PMP or PgMP certification strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive project management experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, or other high-technology industries.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through completion, delivering on time and within budget.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycles, systems engineering principles, and commercial or government contract management.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to influence without authority and effectively engage stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Experience supporting external customer or supplier negotiations is a plus.

Skills

• Passion for space and the mission
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
• Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster

Core Competencies

Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

Work Environment

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements

• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Physical Requirements

Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)

May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)

Equipment and Machines: Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)