Software Program Manager

Job ID: 8687B • Date Posted: October 12, 2026

About the role

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented advanced career Software Program Manager to lead the development and sustainment of complex software systems supporting satellite ground operations in our Strategic & Military Space Division. This role bridges technical leadership, stakeholder communication, and project execution, and Agile team enablement to ensure delivery of high-reliability software critical to national security and space missions. The selected candidate will help establish effective delivery practices across cross-functional teams, facilitate collaboration and continuous improvement, remove organizational and technical impediments, and align iterative software delivery with customers, mission, and program objectives. The Strategic & Military Space Division delivers advanced satellite and sensor systems that support the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Our division is a key component of national security, providing technological solutions and expert mission support. Become part of a team dedicated to making a tangible contribution to our nation’s defense capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Leads cross-functional software development teams delivering ground system capabilities including telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C), mission planning, automation, and data processing
• Manages project lifecycle from concept through operations, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, quality, security and mission objectives are met
• Facilitate planning, daily coordination, reviews, retrospectives, backlog refinement, and other team activities that promote transparency, alignment, and continuous improvement
• Partners with Product Owners, technical leads, customers, and Government sponsors to maintain alignment on priorities, acceptance criteria, dependencies, and delivery outcomes
• Serves as a servant leader and delivery facilitator, helping teams self-organize, improve flow, resolve conflicts, and maintain focus on the highest-value work
• Identifies, tracks, and removes organizational, technical, resource, and process impediments that could affect delivery
• Uses Agile and program metrics to support decision-making and communicate status
• Manages project and program risks, issues, dependencies, change control, and related management processes
• Tracks and reports program status, technical progress, delivery forecasts, resource allocation, risks, and impediments to senior leadership and customers

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in technical engineering, computer science, information systems, or other relevant field
• 15+ years of applicable experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 13+ years with a master’s degree
• Minimum of 10 years of software program/project management experience, including at least 5 years in critical and complex DoW programs
• Practical experience applying Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid delivery practices in a complex technical environment, or equivalent experience leading iterative software delivery and continuous-improvement activities.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional software teams through iterative or incremental development and delivery
• Proven success managing complex software projects through full development lifecycle
• Strong understanding of ground system architecture and satellite operations
• Proficiency with project