Sr. Program Manager - Space System

Responsibilities

• Manage complex situations, lead and inspire your team, drive innovative thinking, instill collaboration, drive for success, challenge status quo, and demonstrate the ability to adapt to dynamic situations
• Create, implement, and own the coordinated program baseline (cost, schedule, technical) with the chief engineer
• Serve as a liaison, with other customer facing team members, between our company and our customers—developing deep relationships to understand their needs and align our program goals with their mission objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams to successfully integrate and execute missile defense missions as well as deliver tailored products and services that meet and exceed customer expectations.
• Direct the responsibilities and activities of the program team including program management, systems engineering, communications and IT, mission operations, facilities management, security, safety, and contracts/financial/supply chain support functions
• Provide strategic direction and setting priorities that reflect customer goals while managing day-to-day issues to keep projects on time and within budget.
• Perform risk and issue assessments with a focus on minimizing customer impact, ensuring rapid resolution and transparent escalation when needed.
• Develop innovative solutions to resolve difficult program challenges including cost, schedule, and technical performance
• Deliver compelling presentations and lead preparations of bids, proposals, studies, and deliverables, effectively communicating our value proposition during customer reviews and engagements.
• Oversee and manage subcontractor activities to ensure all external contributions meet the high-quality standards our customers expect
• Develop and lead internal and external program management reviews

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience delivering a complex system through the entire engineering life cycle—from initial concept and design through integration, testing, and final deployment.
• A proven track record in building strong customer relationships through effective team building, conflict resolution, and communication—both internally and externally.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a strong background in customer interfacing and experience in National Security aerospace programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, high-value contracts (typically $50M+), with deep expertise in the research and development phase including budget oversight, risk management, and milestone-driven execution.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring that every project maintains a strong customer focus.
• Hands-on experience managing risk and overseeing cost, schedule, and technical baselines in aerospace, engineering, or software development programs, all with a clear focus on delivering customer value.
• Strong analytical background with the evaluation of requests for proposals and/or quotes.
• Experience working within a cross-functional, geographically dispersed team environment to meet contractual commitments and create outstanding customer experiences.
• Active Secret and eligibility to obtain Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Aerospace, Management, or a related field is required plus 15 or more years related experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree or higher
• Experience with space vehicle or weapons systems
• Experience managing Department of War (DoW) or U.S. Space Force (USSF) contracts, especially those that require close coordination with the customer program office.
• Experience working missile defense, including experience with discrimination of threats from a target field and/or autonomous navigation of multi-object systems
• Ability to establish new & further refining existing templates, tools, & guidelines for program documentation & execution
• Experience with ensuring compliance with approved Corporate and ISO 9001:2000 Policies and Processes

Compensation

Base Salary: $200,000 - $290,000
Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Additional Requirements

Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Long Beach, CA or Denver, CO. While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site.
Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.