<h2><strong>About the role</strong></h2> <p>Muon Space seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead delivery of next-generation satellites for national security missions, including missile warning and tracking. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role at the intersection of payload engineering and rapid-cycle space vehicle development.</p> <p>The Senior PM is the accountable owner for delivering the program on cost, schedule, and technical performance. You will manage a multi-disciplinary internal team, subcontractors, and a critical-path vendor base for EO/IR payloads, algorithm development, avionics, and space vehicle builds. The role spans the full program lifecycle: design reviews, hardware build, integration and environmental test, launch, and on-orbit operations.</p> <p class="p1">This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.</p> <h2><strong>Responsibilities</strong></h2> <ul> <li><strong>Program Execution</strong> <ul> <li>Own the integrated master schedule, cost baseline, and risk register</li> <li>Drive the program through preliminary and critical design reviews, payload and spacecraft integration, environmental test, launch, and on-orbit demonstration, meeting customer milestones and contract deliverables</li> <li>Manage scope, cost, and period of performance against contract milestones and payment events</li> <li>Lead day-to-day execution of the program team to the contract, running the weekly program cadence, internal design reviews, and readiness reviews; provide status and briefing content to the Mission Manager, who is the customer interface</li> <li>Own the preparation and quality of contract deliverables, including status reports, design review packages, technical and cost data, test plans, and final reports, for delivery to the customer</li> <li>Partner with the Mission Manager and Muon's Capture and Business Development teams on follow-on strategy</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Subcontractor and Vendor Management</strong> <ul> <li>Manage program subcontracts, including mission data processing and algorithm development</li> <li>Coordinate critical-path vendors for detectors, focal plane arrays, cooler assemblies, and optics across long-lead procurements</li> <li>Keep subcontract scope, cost, and schedule aligned with prime contract commitments</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Technical Leadership and Risk Management</strong> <ul> <li>Partner closely with the lead systems engineer and technical leads (payload design, AI&T, optics, electronics, software, mechanisms, thermal, mission systems) to drive technical decisions</li> <li>Own and actively work the program risk register, including supply chain, integration, launch, and demonstration risks</li> <li>Resolve cross-functional issues quickly and escalate to functional and program leadership when needed</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Compliance and Reporting</strong> <ul> <li>Ensure program execution complies with contract requirements, including U.S.-only performance, ITAR/EAR export controls, technical data rights, security requirements, and CUI handling</li> <li>Coordinate with Contracts and Finance on subcontract changes, invoicing, and program financial reporting</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2><strong>Required Qualifications</strong></h2> <ul> <li>8+ years of professional experience in program or technical management of complex technical system development, deployment, and operations</li> <li>5+ years of hands-on technical experience, preferably in an engineering or similar capacity, or direct ownership of a hardware development effort through design reviews to a tested product</li> <li>Direct experience with space, defense, or aerospace program planning and execution</li> <li>Demonstrated experience managing programs with multiple subcontractors and a complex critical-path supply chain</li> <li>Experience executing rapid-acquisition or prototype agreements for government customers, with familiarity navigating the government program lifecycle, technical data rights, and contract deliverables</li> <li>Active Secret U.S. security clearance</li> <li>U.S. citizenship required (Clearance required and program is ITAR-restricted)</li> <li>Excellent written communication skills; you will author or approve the program's contract deliverables</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Preferred Qualifications</strong></h2> <ul> <li>Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance</li> <li>Prior experience on a missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, or similar space-based infrared program</li> <li>Working knowledge of EO/IR sensor architectures, focal plane arrays, and cryocooler integration</li> <li>Working knowledge of missile warning data products and techniques for detection and tracking</li> <li>Experience managing programs through environmental test campaigns (TVAC, vibration, EMI/EMC)</li> <li>Experience with launch integration and early on-orbit operations</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Salary</strong></h2> <p>The salary range for this role is $206,000 - $232,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process. </p><div class="content-conclusion">&l