Technical Program Manager, Spacecraft Subsystems

Front Door Defense; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona in Montréal, Quebec is seeking a Technical Program Manager for Spacecraft Subsystems to own planning and execution of subsystem development from concept through manufacturing. You will drive schedules, coordinate cross-functional teams, and manage risks in a fast-moving hardware environment.

As the first TPM embedded with the Montreal Spacecraft Subsystems team, you’ll help stand up program infrastructure for new subsystems and collaborate with US partners to keep milestones on track.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of project or program management experience in complex hardware development.
• Direct exposure to spacecraft, satellite component, or precision hardware development.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to track interdependencies across mechanical, electrical, and integration workstreams.
• Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy in a small team environment.
• Clear communicator who can work effectively with engineers on the bench and summarize status for remote leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the development and manufacturing schedule for Montreal-based subsystem programs.
• Coordinate between Montreal engineering and US-based program/engineering teams to keep requirements and plans synchronized.
• Assist in managing component suppliers and manufacturing partners to align external deliverables with timelines.
• Surface risks early, maintain the risk register, and resolve blockers before they impact the schedule.
• Prepare and deliver subsystem status updates to leadership, showing schedule health and upcoming decisions.
• Help develop lightweight project management processes suited to a small, adaptable team.

Skills

Project management

Hardware development

Cross-functional collaboration

Autonomy

Communication

Tools

Wrike

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Technical Program Manager, Spacecraft Subsystems

Plan and drive Montreal spacecraft subsystem development from concept through manufacturing

Location: Montréal, Quebec

About The Role

Technical Program Manager (TPM) for Spacecraft Subsystems

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world's most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

As our first Technical Program Manager (TPM) embedded with our Montreal-based Spacecraft Subsystems team, you'll own the planning and execution of spacecraft component development and manufacturing, working closely with the Spacecraft Subsystem Lead to keep a highly autonomous, fast-moving hardware team on track. This team isn't defined by a single component - you'll help stand up the program infrastructure as we take on new subsystems over time. If you want to be close to the hardware, help build something from the ground up, and grow with a company doing something genuinely new in space, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

• Subsystem Schedule Ownership: Own and maintain the development and manufacturing schedule for Montreal-based subsystem programs, tracking milestones, managing dependencies, and keeping the team honest on deliverables.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Serve as the coordination hub between the Montreal engineering team and Xona's US-based program and engineering teams - ensuring component requirements, interfaces, and V&V plans stay synchronized across sites.
• Supplier & Manufacturing Management: Support the team in managing component suppliers and manufacturing partners, keeping external deliverables aligned with internal development timelines.
• Risk & Issue Tracking: Surface risks early, maintain the risk register, and work with technical leads to resolve blockers before they impact the schedule. Escalate to program leadership with context and a recommended path forward.
• Program Reporting: Prepare and deliver regular subsystem status updates to the Montreal team lead and US program leadership, maintaining a clear picture of schedule health, open risks, and upcoming decisions.
• Process Building: Help develop lightweight, effective project management processes suited to a small, adaptable engineering team - you'll have real input into how PM operates in Montreal as the team grows.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5 years of project or program management experience in complex hardware development, ideally in aerospace, defense, or a similarly technical field.
• Some direct exposure to spacecraft, satellite component, or precision hardware development - you have a working understanding of how subsystem development progresses from requirements through manufacturing.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to track interdependencies across mechanical, electrical, and integration workstreams.
• Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy in a small team environment - you drive your own agenda and don't need a lot of overhead to stay on track.
• Clear communicator who can work effectively with engineers on the bench and summarize status cleanly for remote leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with precision mechanical or electromechanical component development -reaction wheels, actuators, mechanisms, or similar.
• Familiarity with rate manufacturing ramp-up for flight hardware.
• Experience coordinating across geographically distributed teams, particularly US-Canada or similar cross-border environments.
• Proficiency with scheduling tools such as Wrike, MS Project, Smartsheet, or similar.
• PMP or other project management certifications.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.