Principal Program Manager

Description

The company is an end-to-end space business that builds rockets, spacecraft and critical subsystems, and it works on missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The team builds real hardware and moves quickly.

The Space Systems division builds full spacecraft and the parts that let them work in orbit, including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems and radios. It has supported more than 1,700 missions, from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense work, with partners such as NASA, the Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force. Its work ranges from single high-performance spacecraft to constellations and vertically integrated components.

The Optical Systems group builds sensing products for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers, focused on space domain awareness and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared work from Geost, it supplies responsive, scalable sensing across all orbits and across space, ground and airborne platforms.

This Principal Program Manager role is based in Tucson, AZ. You will lead EO/IR space missions and ground-based sensor networks, along with research work. You will need experience managing programs that involve electronics, software and EO/IR sensors on space or ground systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee several contracts and keep cost, risk, schedule, staffing and technical performance on track, whether the work is a full program or a subsystem of a larger one, and resolve issues as they come up.
• Spot risks early, build contingency and recovery plans, resolve issues on time and track their financial impact.
• Solve unusually complex technical problems with new approaches.
• Lead engineering teams through test events and resolve operational and technical problems that come up during them.
• Complete tasks and hit deadlines with limited direction.
• Prepare and present program status and plans with limited direction.
• Communicate clearly with engineers across disciplines, with project management and especially with customers.
• Keep communication consistent and build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, especially functional teams and executive leadership.
• Build and keep trusted relationships with key customers, partners and stakeholders.
• Lead program and customer meetings and reviews.
• Lead technical interchange meetings with team members and other project staff, and represent the organization on project development matters.
• Lead and mentor junior technical staff and program support staff, giving guidance as needed.
• Build and closely track the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and manage Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics where required.
• Support proposal and ECP work, leading it where needed.
• Travel or work off-site when needed.
• Take on other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in business, technology or a technical field.
• 12+ years managing technical projects for the US Government.
• A proven record of leading a team through program and project milestones.
• Hands-on experience with active optical systems.
• Experience with space EO payloads, test plan development, and work in astronomy, physics, electronics, software and/or remote sensing.
• An active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
• U.S. citizenship, required by program rules.

Conditions

Prolonged sitting, standing, walking and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust and fumes in production areas.

Travel or off-site work may be needed.

Equal opportunity statement: applicants are considered without regard to protected characteristics.