Space Systems Engineering Technical Program Manager

Maxar Technologies; City of Westminster; On-site; USD 126,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead complex aerospace programs. This role requires a strong engineering background and the ability to balance hands-on execution with strategic oversight. You will manage multidisciplinary teams, ensuring successful delivery of spacecraft development programs. Your expertise in program management, risk assessment, and communication will be vital in navigating the complexities of aerospace projects. Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation and teamwork, and make a significant impact in the aerospace sector.

Benefits

Paid Time Off

Health Insurance

401(k) Plan

Incentive Eligibility

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in aerospace or spacecraft program management.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and development lifecycles.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive program planning and execution from kick-off through delivery.
• Develop statements of work (SOWs) and support technical requirements.

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Program Management

Risk Management

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering or Project Management

Tools

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Agile Development Frameworks

Job description

Please review the job details below.

We are hiring for aTechnical Program Manager (TPM), to join our headquarters in Westminster, CO. The Technical Program Manager will have a strong engineering background and a proven track record of leading complex, multidisciplinary aerospace programs. This role requires someone who can balance hands-on program execution with the strategic insight to guide diverse teams and external partners to successful delivery.

You'll be responsible for the successful execution of spacecraft or aerospace system development programs. You will lead integrated efforts across internal engineering teams, contractors, and partner organizations-ensuring that scope, schedule, budget, and risk are actively managed and aligned with company goals. Your understanding of spacecraft and ground systems and development cycles will be critical in ensuring both technical and programmatic success.

A Day in the Life:

You'll start the day by reviewing engineering progress against key milestones-checking in with subsystem leads to confirm design maturity or test results. By mid-morning, you're leading a technical interchange with an external partner, resolving open action items, and verifying upcoming deliverables. Afterward, you'll update the program schedule, assess cost variances, and prepare a customer-facing status briefing.

In the afternoon, you might draft a revised SOW for a new subcontractor or help your systems engineering team navigate a late-stage design trade. Throughout the day, you're the glue holding technical, contractual, and operational threads together to ensure the program moves forward with momentum and clarity.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Execution (Scope, Schedule, Budget, Risk):

• Own and drive program planning and execution from kick-off through delivery.
• Establish and maintain project schedules, cost baselines, and risk registers.
• Identify and mitigate risks across technical and programmatic dimensions.
• Report program status to internal leadership and external customers with transparency and confidence.

Contract and External Partner Management:

• Develop statements of work (SOWs), support development of technical requirements, and performance metrics for contractors.
• Lead programmatic reviews with external vendors and partners.
• Monitor contractor cost, schedule, and technical performance to ensure contract deliverables are met.
• Serve as the primary interface for managing supplier-related issues, including scope changes and risk mitigation.

Engineering and Technical Engagement:

• Keep central focus on ultimate mission execution and value-add.
• Collaborate closely with engineering leads to ensure technical milestones are achieved.
• Understand and communicate tradeoffs across systems (e.g., payload, propulsion, power, comms, avionics, flight software, and ground systems) and how they impact the program plan.
• Support systems engineering efforts related to requirements development, verification planning, and interface definition.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace or spacecraft program management, with direct oversight of engineering deliverables.
• Demonstrated success managing scope, schedule, budget, and risk on complex hardware/software programs.
• Experience managing subcontracts and supplier relationships in a technical capacity.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and development lifecycles.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or equivalent experience.
• PMP or similar program management certification.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), integrated product teams (IPTs), and Agile/hybrid development frameworks.
• Familiarity with government or commercial spaceflight programs, including proposal and contract processes.
• Familiarity with spacecraft bus subsystems, electrooptical remote sensing, and LEO orbits.
• Working knowledge of spacecraft environmental testing, flight readiness processes, and launch operations.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

#LI-MG1

In support of pay transparency at Maxar, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate's starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

* The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $126,000.00 - $210,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. You can find more information on our benefits at:https://www.maxar.com/careers/benefits

Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.

The date of posting can be found on Maxar's Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via Maxar's Career page.

Maxar Technologies values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.