Senior Program Manager

Turion Space; Irvine; On-site; GBP 127,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Irvine, California, is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead programs from proposal to execution. This role involves managing cross-functional teams and requires over 8 years of experience in program management, preferably in a related industry. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $170,000 to $215,000. Strong communication and leadership skills are essential as well as the ability to interface with government and commercial clients.

Benefits

Equity in the company

Comprehensive health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Team building activities

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in program management, mission management, or project management.
• Proven success managing programs with budgets of $100M or more.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution for spacecraft or mission programs.
• Serve as the primary interface with government and commercial customers.
• Develop program execution strategies and detailed program plans.

Skills

Program management

Engineering experience

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or business

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

At Turion Space, we’re on a mission to secure Earth and expand humanity’s reach beyond it. We’re developing spacecraft for national security, in‑space servicing, and orbital debris removal. As we prepare for upcoming launches and expand our portfolio of government and commercial programs, we’re looking for a Senior Program Manager to drive execution across teams and ensure successful delivery from concept through launch.

This role is based at our Irvine, California headquarters.

As a Senior Program Manager at Turion, you’ll be responsible for leading programs across their entire lifecycle from proposal and contract negotiations to execution, delivery, and closeout. You’ll work cross‑functionally with engineering, supply chain, operations, and leadership to manage scope, schedule, budget, and customer communications. A successful candidate will bring experience working with commercial customers, U.S. Government agencies (e.g., DoD, Space Force, NASA), and leading integrated teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution for one or more spacecraft or mission programs, ensuring delivery against technical, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Serve as the primary interface with government and commercial customers, cultivating relationships and representing Turion in all program‑related matters.
• Build and manage program teams and external supplier relationships to meet contractual and technical requirements.
• Develop program execution strategies, master schedules, and detailed program plans, coordinating across all internal functions.
• Monitor and report program performance metrics, financials, risks, and opportunities to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support proposal development, business capture activities, and contract negotiations.
• Drive continuous alignment between customer goals and internal team execution, proactively identifying issues and mitigating risks.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or business.
• 8+ years of experience in program management, mission management, or project management, preferably in the aerospace or defense industry.
• Proven success managing programs through all lifecycle phases: proposal, capture, planning, execution, delivery, and closeout.
• Experience managing prime programs with budgets of $100M or more.
• Proficient in Microsoft Project or similar scheduling tools.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ Years of engineering experience in an aerospace environment (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Systems).
• Experience working on LEO or GEO surveillance and reconnaissance programs.
• PMP certification or equivalent training in formal program management methodologies.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or Agile practices in hardware development environments.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing with government agencies, especially U.S. Space Force, Air Force, or NASA.
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in rapid prototyping and hardware fielding environments.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Senior Program Manager Salary: $170,000 - $215,000 USD

ITAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Benefits

• Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success.
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.
• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan to help you plan for your future.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.
• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our team members, recognizing that our collective success is built upon the well‑being and satisfaction of each individual.

Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.