Sr. Manager, Program Management - Civil Programs

About the role

Lanteris Space is seeking an experienced program manager to lead and execute spacecraft programs, ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction, financial performance, and contractual compliance. You will partner closely with NASA, internal functional organizations, and company leadership to design, build, test, launch, and deliver a spacecraft in orbit that meets all customer requirements. As the company grows, you will have opportunities to assume broader leadership responsibilities, such as serving as Advanced Program Manager for strategic new business opportunities.

The ideal candidate combines exceptional program execution leadership with strong business acumen, government contracting expertise, and the ability to develop trusted customer relationships that drive both mission success and business growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of spacecraft programs, ensuring achievement of technical, cost, schedule, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives.
• Drive program performance through disciplined risk management and issue resolution.
• Provide leadership across matrixed, cross-functional teams including Engineering, Factory Operations, Finance, Contracts, Supply Chain, Quality, and Business Development to meet customer requirements within baseline budget.
• Manage program technical baseline and contractual requirements, ensuring contractual obligations are satisfied.
• Create and manage a program risk management plan executable by the factory, including technical, cost, and schedule risks with mitigation plans and assigned leaders.
• Exhibit professionalism and leadership as the primary focal point to customer representatives, ensuring integrity, responsiveness, and ethical business practices in all dealings.
• Own the financial performance of the assigned program, including revenue forecasting, funding management, Estimates at Completion (EACs), resource planning, and program profitability.
• Partner with Finance to develop annual operating plans, staffing strategies, financial forecasts, and mitigation plans for cost and schedule risks.
• Monitor program performance metrics and provide executive leadership with timely assessments of financial health, execution status, and business risks.
• Balance customer objectives with sound business practices to maximize long-term program value.
• Ensure program execution complies with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), NASA FAR Supplement (NFS), contractual requirements, and company policies.
• Oversee preparation and submission of required contractual reports, financial reporting, program deliverables, and executive communications.
• Lead contract modifications, award fee activities, audits, corrective actions, and contract closeout efforts.
• Partner with Contracts, Legal, and Finance to effectively manage contractual obligations and business risk.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or related discipline. A master’s degree may count as 2 years of experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience, including program management of large-scale engineering/manufacturing programs.
• Experience in program management with responsibility for technical, financial, and contractual performance.
• Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), NASA FAR Supplement (NFS), and government contracting practices.
• Experience managing program financials, including forecasting, funding management, Estimates at Completion (EACs), staffing, and resource planning.
• Ability to build trusted customer relationships.
• Ability to travel in support of customer, supplier, production, or business development meetings (approximately 10-15% travel).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Physics, Engineering, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of commercial space architectures, missions, systems, requirements, and acquisition methods; ability to strategize unique solutions.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading and delivering software development projects.
• Experience with USG proposal development (e.g., color reviews), program execution, and contract change implementation.
• Experience scoping, winning, and profitably leading USG or commercial programs.
• Complex risk management experience with demonstrated results.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Pay

The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

• Colorado: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• New Jersey: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• Delaware: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• Washington, DC metropolitan area: $156,000.00 - $260,000.00 annually.
• California: $163,000.00 - $271,000.00 annually.
• All other states: Geographic cost of labor is used to develop market-driven ranges.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) for eligible employees.
• Incentive eligibility with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved.