Senior Program Manager I

Description

The company builds rockets, spacecraft and critical subsystems to keep the world connected and protected, and to extend human reach to the Moon, Mars and beyond. It builds real hardware for meaningful missions.

The Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads and components such as solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems and radios.

The team has supported more than 1,700 missions, from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense work. Partners include NASA, the Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force.

This is a senior program role for high-volume satellite production, covering a program from prototype maturity through full-rate production.

Responsibilities

• Own rate, yield, unit cost and strategic program decisions for high-volume satellite production, from prototype maturity through full-rate production.
• Build and lead the team that takes satellites from concept through qualification, full-rate production and flight, and set the technical roadmap for the team's core capabilities.
• Run several active programs at once, make architecture decisions with Chief Engineers, and resolve trade-offs in design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, and rate readiness versus reliability.
• Work directly on the most serious line-threatening problems alongside the team when needed.
• Grow a culture where people take sound risks, the best idea wins regardless of source, bold calls are backed and intelligent misses are accepted. Coach the next generation of program and team leaders.
• Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners, protecting schedule and margin.
• Coordinate manufacturing, supply chain, integration and test teams, and clear blockers quickly so work keeps moving and quality stays high.
• Act as the main contact for assigned commercial constellation operators, and work with BD & Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for next-generation constellation production.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science or another technical discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience.
• A record of owning a technical program, product or team end to end and delivering it under real pressure. Hiring is based on what you have shipped, not years logged.
• Evidence of taking hardware and software from prototype to high-rate production, with measured gains in yield, throughput and cost.
• Working knowledge of takt time, line of balance, design for manufacturing and learning-curve economics.
• Experience spotting tooling, supply chain or yield risk and resolving it before it slows the line.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and keep a security clearance.
• Nice to have: a proven approach to moving low-volume prototypes into full-rate production without losing mission reliability.
• Nice to have: deep experience scaling satellite, aerospace or similar complex hardware at volume.
• Nice to have: a record of lowering unit cost at rate without hurting reliability.
• Nice to have: a Master's degree in Engineering, Operations or a related field.
• Nice to have: fluency in Systems Engineering, trade studies, interface control and requirement integrity, plus hands-on use of Jira, Confluence and ERP/MRP to keep program health visible.
• Nice to have: multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace or defense. The hardest thing you have shipped counts for more than the number of years.

Conditions

Based at the company's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA.

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

Pay level and base salary are set case by case, based on job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience.

Base pay range for California only: $125,300 - $187,850 USD.

For U.S. offices, the role falls under ITAR, so you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a refugee or asylee, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Department of Commerce, as applicable.

For New Zealand offices, background checks, including nationality checks, are completed before any offer. You must be eligible to access ITAR-regulated equipment and data. You may be ineligible without citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a NATO member, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay, plus company stock as part of total compensation.
• A 15% discount on company stock through the employee stock purchase program.
• Medical plans: HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP with a significant company contribution to the HSA.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid vacation and sick time, plus 11 paid holidays.
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers where available, and discounted gym memberships.
• Complimentary snacks and beverages.
• 50% employee discount on the merch store, plus other employee discounts.