Technical Project Manager

As Program Manager leading Space Warfighting operations team in support of a national defense program, you will be responsible for the cross-country 24/7 and day-to-day management of the contract including staffing, as well as technical and programmatic reporting, across six geographically separated operating locations. As a senior leader and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) subject matter expert (SME) you will directly work with employees and subcontractors assigned to the program and provide leadership and mentoring to the team. The Program Manager is expected to work seamlessly with the COTR and customer decision makers to define tasks, set expectations and then deliver complete mission execution and on-time product submissions. Additionally, the Program Manager will monitor progress and support the integration of developing SDA systems & new tool capabilities that drive efficiency and improved TTPs for essential Fight Safety & Mission Protection areas of responsibility (AOR). The successful candidate will ensure role redundancy via training and fully equipped critical 24/7 positions that rapidly respond to all space and terrestrial-based threats that pose a risk to national security space assets.  Establishing high moral & mission execution standards and leading by example is central to successful risk-management and a key responsibility of the Program Manager. 

Responsibilities: 

• Manage staff (employees, subcontractors) and work to resolve issues, fostering a culture of respect 

• Act as liaison between program contractors, COTR and other government customers 

• Ensure program, staff comply with contract requirements and operate within scope 

• Manage program scope, objectives, milestones, deliverables in alignment w/ contract requirements 

• Oversee operations & direct changes, when necessary, to improve mission execution 

• Support testing & integration efforts as new technologies link with all space protection missions 

• Contribute to course of action (COA) planning, offer SME guidance to training manager, crew leads 

• Forecast financial reports, maintain technical/cost/schedule, deliver contract-required documents 

• Lead program review meetings, discussing key activities and risk management 

• Support strategic planning and anticipate future threats and operational requirements  

• Coordinate with COTR, Security on personnel clearance crossover and onboarding actions  

• Occasional travel to partnered operations centers (CONUS, multiple sites within program) and local customer facilities is required 

***This position is contingent upon award of contract*** 

• 16+ years’ experience with bachelor’s degree within a STEM field

• 10+ years’ combined experience working in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission operations centers (government or commercial), space surveillance network, or space vehicle operations sites 

• 7+ years’ prior working experience with National Reconnaissance Office missions and systems 

• Relevant experience working with other IC organizations 

• 5+ years’ Program Management experience or 5+ years’ experience serving as Project Lead or Operations Lead for a national space defense operations program 

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar Certification 

• Active TS/SCI clearance with adjudicated CI Poly 

PREFERRED: 

• Graduate degree, or PHD in business management or mission related engineering fields 

• 10+ years’ experience working in high-tempo space operational environment with contractors and government officials (both military and civilian) of all ranks and leadership levels 

• Understanding and prior applied knowledge of orbital mechanics and space surveillance systems 

• Prior experience working in conjunction with strategic planning and space intelligence divisions 

SECURITY CLEARANCE:  

This position requires the candidate to be able to maintain a TS/SCI clearance. US Citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.