Technical Program Manager, On-Orbit Tests

YOUR MISSION

This Technical Program Manager for On-Orbit Test will be responsible for the end-to-end integration of a major on-orbit demonstration of an integrated spacecraft. This role serves as the Lead Integrator and primary execution arm, from planning to execution. Critically, this role interfaces with the customer test team on a weekly basis, at minimum, serving as the immediate bridge between their external communication (requirements, asks, and everything in between) and relaying them back internally to drive to closure. This role will also be the prime interface with external Government Test Ranges and officials at different test venues to support our ground testing confidence campaign. The role requires continuous coordination across cross-functional teams, including technical (engineering, test team, ground systems, etc.) and programmatic (launch, supply chain, range operations, planners, etc.) teams.

This role is the responsible Test Campaign Mission Manager and under direction of the Sr. TPM of Missile Defense Space System Development, this role drives day-to-day test readiness, leads cross-functional coordination, and ensures all systems, teams, and environments are prepared for successful test execution. This role will provide regular status updates to leadership and escalate critical risks, issues, or decision points as needed, operating as the primary “boots-on-the-ground” leader responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and effective test execution.

What You'll Own

• End-to-end Integration of critical technology development on-orbit test campaigns
• Driving schedule, technical, and cost of these major program development milestones, proactively identifying risks to successful execution and driving mitigation strategies across the team
• Planning, integrating, and executing test plans while ensuring alignment between vehicle readiness, ground infrastructure, and external constraints such as range availability and regulatory requirements
• Cross-functional coordination across Engineering, Production & Integration, Supply Chain, Program Management, Sr. Leadership, and external stakeholders
• Managing test facility/range coordination and logistics planning to accommodate both technical & programmatic needs
• Execution rigor, bringing cadence, status tracking, and accountability to recurring and milestone-driven work to complete these campaigns
• Following test events, ensuring the integrity and completeness of all data to lead post-test assessments with engineering, including anomaly identification and triage, to provide a finalized data product output to internal and customer leadership

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or complex system testing environments
• Experience integrating & leading cross-functional teams in high-tempo, high-consequence environments, including ground and/or flight test campaigns
• Strong understanding of test operations, including test planning, readiness reviews, and execution discipline
• Demonstrated ability to perform Mission Campaign Management at scale: structured processes and prioritization, dependency and critical-path management, schedule and risk management, and driving programs to closure across multiple concurrent efforts to accomplish a given mission
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across engineering, operations, and external stakeholders, such as customers and industry partners
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure and make sound decisions in dynamic test environments
• Experience owning delivery for teams you don't manage, where your leverage is cadence, visibility, and escalation rather than reporting lines
• Experience working with safety-critical systems and adherence to rigorous safety and mission assurance standards
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules and drive execution across multiple parallel test efforts
• Experience with Atlassian tooling (Jira/Confluence) for program tracking and documentation.
• Comfort operating in a matrixed structure: applying a defined program/portfolio methodology while taking day-to-day priorities from an embedded team.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Security Clearance (TS, TS//SCI)
• Advanced degree (M.S. or higher) in a relevant engineering or technical discipline
• Experience with missile systems, launch vehicles, or high-performance flight systems
• Strong understanding of taking engineering requirements into executable test procedures and plans
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing integrated system tests (ground and/or flight)
• Prior experience serving as a test conductor, test director, or similar role during live test operations
• Familiarity with test range operations and coordination (e.g., government or commercial ranges)
• Experience with telemetry, instrumentation systems, and data acquisition for flight or ground tests
• Background in guidance, navigation and control (GNC), propulsion, or integrated vehicle systems
• Experience leading or supporting Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs), or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience with configuration management and test article control in a development or production environment
• High growth potential with demonstrated leadership trajectory toward senior test or program leadership roles

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $140,000- $190,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance
• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Colorado Springs. While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site
• Work Travel — This role will require travel to test sites, estimated at 15-20% of the time.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite