Engineering Program Manager II/III

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead end-to-end execution of a novel flight hardware program, including planning, schedule development, cost tracking, and risk management.
• Cook up cross-functional engineering teams (mechanical, structures, manufacturing, systems, test).
• Drive milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and ensure both technical and programmatic readiness.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with NASA and other stakeholders, ensuring clear and timely communication.
• Lead requirements definition and management activities: translate mission needs into traceable system and hardware requirements and oversee development of verification plans and artifacts.

Technical Ownership

• Guide system architecture decisions and technical strategy for the development of spaceflight hardware and deployable structures.
• Provide oversight for the design, analysis, prototyping, qualification, and acceptance of space-qualified mechanisms and structural systems.
• Support system-level assessments, performance evaluations, and integration with spacecraft bus components.
• Ensure alignment between engineering disciplines to meet structural, mechanical, environmental, and mission performance requirements.
• Review and approve engineering documentation, design analyses, test procedures, and test reports.
• Work with structures, mechanisms, and manufacturing teams to ensure manufacturability, repeatability, and robust production processes.
• Support integration and test activities for flight hardware, including functional testing, deployment testing, and environmental qualifications consistent with NASA requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Partner closely with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain to ensure smooth production and delivery.
• Identify program inefficiencies and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of internal standards and best practices.
• Support sales activities including customer requirements discovery, concept and project planning, project estimating, and cost support.
• Contribute to company outreach activities including marketing and lead generation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems or hardware development.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary aerospace hardware programs.
• Experience with space-qualified hardware and environmental test campaigns.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to coordinate across technical and programmatic domains.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with high levels of ownership and accountability.
• Experience supporting or leading NASA or DoD flight programs, or similar spaceflight mission development.
• Familiarity with deployable structures, mechanisms, composite structures, or precision aerospace hardware.
• Knowledge of spaceflight qualification processes (NASA, DoD, or commercial).
• PMP certification or formal project management training.
• Background in small-company or rapid-development engineering environments.
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules (two or more days in office per week).

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life, and AD&D insurance.
• Opterus pays 100% of employees’ premiums and 70% of dependents’ premiums.
• 401K matching up to 4%.
• 9 paid holidays.

Pay

• Engineering Program Manager Level II: $110,000-$135,000/year
• Engineering Program Manager Level III: $130,000-$160,000/year