Program Management Associate Director

Iridium Satellite LLC; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Annual bonuses and company stock

Job summary

Iridium Satellite LLC is seeking a Program Management Associate Director for the Bumblebee program in Reston, VA. This role involves leading cross-functional teams in a high-visibility environment while ensuring compliance with contract deliverables and managing program performance.

The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of program management experience in the U.S. Government sector, strong strategic thinking abilities, and excellent executive communication skills. This position operates under a hybrid work model, requiring employees to work at least three days a week in the office.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of U.S. Government program or project management experience, preferably with DoD or IC.
• 5–7 years of engineering or technical foundation experience.
• Proven ability to manage complex multi-vendor programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program execution for ground segment development.
• Manage budgets and estimates to complete while surfacing variances.
• Serve as primary customer interface and lead program status reviews.

Skills

U.S. Government program management

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Risk management

Cost management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

Job description

Program Management Associate Director

Locations: Reston, VA; Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA

Job ID: 2026-5010

Base Pay Range: $175,000 - $230,000 USD

Actual compensation includes a base salary; additional incentives may include company stock and annual bonuses. Employee benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave and other perks.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Program Management Associate Director for our Bumblebee program to support a mission‑critical ground segment infrastructure for government satellite operations. The role involves leading cross‑functional teams in a high‑visibility environment and contributing to advanced space technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end program execution for ground segment development, ensuring cost, schedule, and performance baselines are met across all satellite operations deliverables and contract milestones.
• Own program financial performance, managing budgets and estimates to complete while surfacing variances and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, leading program status reviews, change board discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• Drive risk and opportunity management by maintaining the program risk register and escalating critical items ahead of major decision gates.
• Manage cross‑functional dependencies and subcontractor performance, holding internal teams and vendors accountable to integrated schedule commitments and contract deliverable quality.
• Ensure contract compliance and deliverable acceptance, working closely with contracts, finance, and quality assurance.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape program strategy, including growth planning, follow‑on positioning, and alignment of ground segment investments.
• Lead proposal development and capture efforts for follow‑on contracts, modifications, and new business pursuits.
• Deliver clear, concise briefings to executive leadership on program health, emerging risks, resource needs, and key decisions.
• Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing program team, setting priorities and fostering accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science required; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of U.S. Government program or project management experience, preferably supporting DoD or IC satellite or ground segment programs.
• 5–7 years of engineering or technical foundation experience.
• Experience managing programs using Scaled Agile (SAFe) or hybrid delivery frameworks.
• Proven ability to manage cost, schedule, and performance baselines across complex, multi‑vendor programs.
• Strong executive communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment and decisiveness.
• Track record of building trusted relationships with senior leadership, customers, and cross‑functional teams.
• Proactive mindset with process improvement orientation.

Preferred

• Project Management Accreditation (APMP, PMI or equivalent).

Additional Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance required (considered active if issued in the past 24 months).
• Ability to travel up to 20%.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary, using standard office equipment. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.