Senior Program Manager, Missile Warning & Tracking

Description

The company builds next-generation satellites for national security missions, including missile warning and tracking, and this role leads delivery of that work across payload engineering and fast-cycle space vehicle development.

You will be the accountable owner for the program's cost, schedule and technical performance, leading a multi-disciplinary internal team, subcontractors and a critical-path vendor base for EO/IR payloads, algorithms, avionics and spacecraft builds. The work covers the full lifecycle, from design reviews and hardware build through integration, environmental test, launch and on-orbit operations.

The role is hybrid, with on-site work at the San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Program execution
• Maintain the integrated master schedule, cost baseline and risk register.
• Lead the program through preliminary and critical design reviews, payload and spacecraft integration, environmental test, launch and on-orbit demonstration, hitting customer milestones and contract deliverables.
• Control scope, cost and period of performance against contract milestones and payment events.
• Run the day-to-day program team against the contract, including the weekly cadence, internal design reviews and readiness reviews. Prepare status and briefing material for the Mission Manager, who acts as the customer interface.
• Write and approve contract deliverables for the customer, including status reports, design review packages, technical and cost data, test plans and final reports.
• Work with the Mission Manager and the Capture and Business Development teams on follow-on strategy.
• Subcontractor and vendor management
• Manage program subcontracts for mission data processing and algorithm development.
• Coordinate critical-path vendors for detectors, focal plane arrays, cooler assemblies and optics through long-lead procurements.
• Keep subcontract scope, cost and schedule matched to the prime contract commitments.
• Technical leadership and risk management
• Work closely with the lead systems engineer and technical leads in payload design, AI&T, optics, electronics, software, mechanisms, thermal and mission systems to make technical decisions.
• Own the program risk register and actively work supply chain, integration, launch and demonstration risks.
• Resolve cross-functional issues quickly, escalating to functional and program leadership when needed.
• Compliance and reporting
• Keep program execution within contract requirements, covering U.S.-only performance, ITAR and EAR export controls, technical data rights, security requirements and CUI handling.
• Work with Contracts and Finance on subcontract changes, invoicing and program financial reporting.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of professional experience in program or technical management of complex technical system development, deployment and operations.
• At least 5 years of hands-on technical experience, ideally in engineering or a similar role, or direct ownership of a hardware development effort from design reviews through to a tested product.
• Direct experience planning and executing space, defense or aerospace programs.
• Experience managing programs with several subcontractors and a complex, critical-path supply chain.
• Experience running rapid-acquisition or prototype agreements for government customers, and familiarity with the government program lifecycle, technical data rights and contract deliverables.
• Active Secret U.S. security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required. Clearance is required and the program is ITAR-restricted.
• Excellent written communication, since you will write or approve the program's contract deliverables.
• Preferred: Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
• Preferred: Prior experience on a missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense or similar space-based infrared program.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of EO/IR sensor architectures, focal plane arrays and cryocooler integration.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of missile warning data products and detection and tracking techniques.
• Preferred: Experience managing programs through environmental test campaigns, including TVAC, vibration and EMI/EMC.
• Preferred: Experience with launch integration and early on-orbit operations.

Conditions

Salary range is $206,000 - $232,000, plus an equity grant and a comprehensive benefits package. Final pay depends on skills, qualifications, experience and geographic location, as assessed during interviews.

The company was founded in 2021 as an end-to-end space systems provider that designs, builds and operates LEO satellite constellations for mission-critical data. Its integrated technology stack lets customers tune their missions for faster time-to-orbit and better constellation remote sensing. The facility in Silicon Valley builds spacecraft and integrates payloads at scale.

The company is registered and able to hire in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA and WA.

Export control requirement: the role needs access to export-controlled information, so you must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158), be eligible to access that information without a required export authorization, or be eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required authorization from the relevant U.S. government agency. The company may decline to pursue any export licensing for legitimate business reasons.

Benefits

• Equity compensation for full-time employees.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401k plan, short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.