Program Manager - Space Mission Systems

Job ID: 20348

The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking applicants for a program manager with background in managing and developing complex aerospace systems. The successful applicant will be responsible for managing the day-to-day program needs for space satellite and/or sensor systems as well as rolling up their sleeves and mixing it up with the technical team. The program manager will work as part of a larger team with customers, external partners and vendors, scientists, developers, engineers, managers, technicians, and support personnel. The ideal candidate will have experience managing space system development. Much of each day will be spent in spirited technical discussion. You will lead a group of several dozen engineers and support staff to provide timely and cost-effective solutions to Government customers. A technical background along with extensive program management experience with schedules and budgets is required.

At SDL, we take pride in and highly value our employees. SDL offers competitive salaries and fantastic benefits, including:

• Flexible work schedules that fit your style; every Friday off, every other Friday off, or simply traditional hours
• Generous paid leisure and sick leave, ensuring you never miss a special event
• Favorable company locations with average commute times of less than 15 minutes
• High-quality, low-cost health, dental, and life insurance
• A 14.2% employer retirement contribution into a 401(a) account-no matching required
• Utah State University undergraduate tuition discounts of 50%, full reimbursement for graduate tuition, and free course audits for employees and dependents meeting eligibility requirements
• A highly educated team that works together to solve some of the most fascinating problems on (and off) our planet
• We are a growing company that maintains both a family feel and high retention rate with high job satisfaction
• Relocation assistance available for most positions

Key Responsibilities:

• Understand and address customer needs and issues, usually by direct interface
• Develop and nourish a strong partner relationship with the customer program management and engineering leadership teams
• Lead complex system development by organizing and focusing the work of multiple engineers with diverse specialties on a common technical solution
• Ensure the technical team has clear deliverables with clear deadlines
• Coordinate with multiple corporate and government agencies to execute the contract
• Assembling and directing corporate resources toward execution of the contract
• Identifying, tracking, avoiding, and mitigating risks
• Trading issues of scope, approach, cost, and schedule
• Delivering the contracted result

Required Qualifications

• Five or more years in program or project management in the space and satellite industry
• Proven technical and business background in end-to-end space missions (spacecraft bus, payload, and ground operations)
• Ability to organize and manage a geographically dispersed team that includes SDL and subcontractor team members
• Experience developing program schedules and controlling budgets to meet required deadlines
• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment while making direct contributions to team success
• Demonstrated success completing program/project lifecycle (proposing, executing, delivering, and closing) in the space domain
• Proven experience leading teams of 20+ people
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field
• Must be a US citizen and be able to obtain a US government security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in systems engineering
• Use of EVMS for program planning and execution
• Program management certification (PMP, or similar)
• Active Top Secret Clearance (or equivalent) or higher

SDL supports a variety of missions, including NASA’s vision to reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind and the Department of Defense’s aim to protect our nation on the ground, in the air, and in space. Our sensors, satellites, software systems, and science and engineering play an essential role in some important missions you’ve heard of, and others that you haven’t. Join our team in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.