Senior Master Scheduler & Planner

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with the only network offering voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things. Our teams are passionate about providing a reliable lifeline to first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, lone workers, ships, aircraft, and remote operations worldwide. We foster an empowering and inclusive culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and bold ideas.

About the role

Iridium is seeking a Senior Master Scheduler & Planner to support a complex multi-phased U.S Government contract. This role will serve as an expert in schedule creation, maintenance, management, and analysis, providing critical insights to the Program Management office. You will support multiple interrelated efforts toward a common operational goal, working both independently and within a cross-functional team of dedicated and matrixed resources. This position requires an active or current Top Secret Security Clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Develop the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Integrated Master Plan (IMP), and the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
• Collaborate with technical teams to develop and refine Agile product roadmaps, ensuring clear articulation of completed work, upcoming milestones, dependencies, and long-term capability sequencing aligned with program objectives.
• Ensure continuous alignment between the program’s Quantifiable Backup Data (QBD) in Jira and the IMS, maintaining accurate traceability and synchronization.
• Actively support Program Increment (PI) Planning by partnering with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Control Account Managers (CAMs), and Technical Leads to finalize objectives, identify dependencies and risks, validate scope alignment, and integrate schedule inputs into the IMS.
• Develop proposal planning artifacts in response to RFIs and RFPs.
• Lead cross-functional teams in defining project tasks, establishing durations, defining relationships, imposing constraints, collecting weekly status, and resource-loading the schedule.
• Perform DCMA 14-point assessments, critical path analysis, and Monte Carlo schedule risk assessments.
• Conduct Schedule Risk Assessments (SRAs) to test the validity and feasibility of the IMS.
• Perform data-driven analysis on cost and schedule variances and support Program Managers and Control Account Managers with variance explanations.
• Develop tier-one, tier-two, and master schedules from a single database using Microsoft Project.
• Provide recommendations on how changes may affect timelines and what adjustments are needed.
• Identify potential issues or trends that may impact the program’s success.
• Develop processes, procedures, and strategies for implementing scheduling best practices.
• Provide on-the-job training and mentorship to junior team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a business or technical major or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience, preferably within the Aerospace or Telecommunications fields.
• At least 5 recent years of experience working in the defense industry with a minimum of 10 years of direct scheduling experience.
• Expertise using Microsoft Project and add-on software such as OnePager Pro, SSI Tools, and audit software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and adapt to different communication styles.
• Ability to build meaningful relationships with senior leadership and provide constructive feedback.
• Strong analytical skills to generate effective solutions and see them through to completion.
• Creativity and resourcefulness in making reliable decisions and determining methods for new assignments.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment by handling multiple tasks and shifting priorities.
• Proactive in sharing knowledge with others.
• Active or current Top Secret Security Clearance or the ability to obtain one (a U.S. Security Clearance active in the past 24 months is considered active).
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to travel up to 15%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Institute (PMI) Certification.
• Knowledge of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) practices.
• Earned Value Management (EVM) certification.

Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary, involving extensive computer use. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Pay

Base Pay Range: $135,000 - $177,000 USD. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors. Base salary is one part of the compensation package, which may also include company stock, annual bonus, and benefits.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan options.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Other discounts and perks.