Joint Space Protection (JSP) Program Manager (Science/Engineering Program Manager 4/5)

This position will be filled at either the Science/Engineering Program Manager 4 or 5 level, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Exceptional candidates may be considered for a higher-level position, and additional job responsibilities will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

About the Role

The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Global Security (GS) Directorate is seeking applicants for the Program Manager (PM) of the Joint Space Protection (JSP) Program. This position reports directly to the Program Directors for Intelligence and Emerging Threats (GS-IET) and National Security and Defense (GS-NSD). The JSP provides space and ground solutions for Department of War (DOW) and Intelligence Community (IC) customer needs, including concept studies, data processing tools, and spaceflight hardware. The JSP is currently executing ~$40M of projects in FY2026, with significant growth anticipated in FY2027. Note that DOW activities associated with the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS) are led by the Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security Program Office (GS-NNS).

Responsibilities

Science/Engineering Program Manager 4:

• Leads the management, coordination, and development of JSP space activities.
• Serves as LANL's principal interface to the IC and DOW for all space-related activities in coordination with the GS Program Directors and the GS Executive Advisor.
• Advises Program Directors, Line Managers, and internal investment boards (such as Laboratory-Directed Research and Development - LDRD) on the needs and opportunities of customer-funded space programs.
• Coordinates with other LANL Program offices conducting space activities to set institutional priorities, resolve resource conflicts, and ensure coherent investments across the LANL space enterprise.

Science/Engineering Program Manager 5:

• Performs all duties outlined for the Program Manager 4 level.
• Identifies and coordinates strategic partnerships with other Federally Funded Research and Development Corporations (FFRDCs) and Commercial Industry to leverage LANL's unique capabilities for system development.
• Collaborates with other LANL organizations, such as the Feynman Center for Innovation (FCI), to address legal aspects of collaboration.

Additional responsibilities for the Science/Engineering Program Manager 5 include:

• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated subject matter expertise in space system design, production, and/or operations, drawing from past leadership experience.
• Project Management: Experience bringing projects through formal systems engineering reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR), including negotiating review content with sponsors.
• Customer Relations and Stakeholder Engagement: Experience engaging with senior sponsors at the GS-15 level and above.

Requirements

• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated experience in space system design, production, and/or operations, including familiarity with NASA and/or DOW Technical Readiness Level (TRL) assessment for space systems. The Program Manager is not expected to be an expert in all areas but should be conversant in critical areas and knowledgeable of integration and test.
• Project Management: Ability to convert concepts and strategic objectives into executable projects with measurable outcomes. Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while balancing priorities and deadlines, coordinating interdisciplinary efforts, and aligning project work with broader organizational goals.
• Customer Relations and Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Experience collaborating with leadership, subject matter experts, partner organizations, and/or public audiences. Ability to assess customer needs and translate them into achievable project scopes and deliverables while setting realistic expectations.
• Leadership: Demonstrated peer-leadership ability to collaborate and strategize with colleagues to meet customer/project objectives while developing team members and meeting institutional goals.
• Teamwork/Collaboration: Ability to foster a respectful, collaborative, and productive work environment. Experience working constructively with colleagues across disciplines and backgrounds, mentoring staff, and supporting professional development. Willingness to share knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and support team success.

Qualifications

Science/Engineering Program Manager 4:

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering-related field from an accredited institution and 12 years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. An advanced degree in a science or engineering field is preferred.

Science/Engineering Program Manager 5:

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering-related field from an accredited institution and 15 years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. An advanced degree in a science or engineering field is preferred.

Skills

• Expert knowledge of at least one of the following: space system hardware/software development, space ground system development, and/or space system operations.
• Commercial or Government certification in program management, test, and/or systems engineering.
• Functional understanding of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and the roles of various US Government agencies in SDA.
• Experience with the US DOW and/or IC space programs.
• Active DOE Q clearance.

Work Environment

Work Location: Onsite in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position Commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. The commitment for this position is 1 year.

Due to federal restrictions, citizens of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, including Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Clearance

This position requires a Q clearance. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation, and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Benefits

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Free basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually).
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays).
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs.
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50-mile radius).

Pay

• Science/Engineering Program Manager 4: $153,600 - $266,500
• Science/Engineering Program Manager 5: $184,200 - $329,700

Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. Eligible employees must be in the position for a minimum of 3 months before July 1st and remain in the position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.