Program Manager- Launch Platforms

Stratolaunch; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation eligible to Mojave, CA

50% company match into 401(k) up to $0

Paid maternity and parental leave

Job summary

Stratolaunch seeks a Program Manager to deliver reliable launch platform projects and flight-ready aircraft capability to customers. You will manage schedules, costs, and technical integration across service-center work, coordinating with Finance, Operations, and Engineering.

The role requires overseeing flight-test activities, risk mitigation, and staffing, with travel to support global operations. Onsite in Mojave, CA, with interdepartmental collaboration and strong customer focus.

Qualifications

• Experience with heavy aircraft, both certified and experimental.
• Experience leading engineers, technicians, testers, and customers to deliver flight-ready aircraft.
• Experience developing schedules and managing teams to achieve test goals.
• Experience with program financial analysis, including variance analysis and forecasts.
• Ability to drive risk and issues to closure in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution and integration of all launch platform service-center projects, on-schedule and on-budget.
• Own launch platform risks and mitigate flight test risks to deliver positive results for customers.
• Lead service-center integration of aircraft modification and maintenance projects.
• Develop schedules and resource plans to complete launch platform execution.
• Track costs and budgets, ensuring alignment with launch platform goals.
• Support variable flight costs planning (fuel, maintenance, crew flights).
• Drive affordability and efficiency to increase mission profitability.
• Lead Program Reviews for all launch platforms.
• Represent the program in internal and customer meetings as required.
• Coordinate with Finance to meet government contracting requirements.
• Develop and drive launch platform metrics and resolve financial challenges.
• Travel as required to support execution.

Skills

Heavy aircraft experience

Flight test scheduling

Program financial analysis

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree + 10–20 years experience

Bachelor's degree + 20+ years experience

Job description

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

Stratolaunch seeks a Program Manager to deliver reliable and successful launch platform projects and flight-ready aircraft capability to our customers. In this role, you will be responsible for meeting schedule, cost, and technical objectives for all launch platform service-center related work. Candidates must have a strong sense of urgency, be dedicated to delivering to our customers, and be motivated to drive cross-functional teams to successfully operate our launch platforms. This role requires creative problem solving to significantly increase hypersonic test cadence while also driving affordability into mission operations. This role will require you to roll up your sleeves and work with a multi-faceted team to deliver for customers in a challenging operational environment.

You will work for the Stratolaunch Program Management department. In this role, you will own the integration of all Stratolaunch launch platform service-center projects. Launch platforms are both certified and experimental aircraft. You will own the cost, schedule, and technical integration of all launch platform activities. This includes managing schedules, planning cross-functional resources and staffing, creating budgets and forecasts, mitigating risks experienced in flight test, and delivering aircraft ready to achieve all test objectives. An optimal candidate will have a strong operational background in flight test execution, with experience modifying and integrating new technologies onto launch platforms. You will be responsible for drastically increasing our launch platform flight cadence, while also driving reliability and affordability initiatives into all launch platform projects. This role requires supporting flight test at all hours of the day and some travel to support global operations. You will work with the Stratolaunch finance and accounting office, operations team, and engineering team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the execution and integration of all launch platform service-center projects, delivering on-schedule, on-budget, and with completion of all project objectives.
• Own launch platform risks. Mitigate the flight test risks and drive issues to closure with timely actions to ensure positive results are delivered to our customers.
• Lead the service-center integration of one-off aircraft modification and aircraft maintenance projects.
• Develop schedules and resource plans to complete all elements of launch platform execution.
• Track maintenance and special-project costs over time and analyze variances. Accountable for achieving the launch platform budgets.
• Support and plan for all variable flight costs, including fuel, maintenance, flight crew proficiency flights, etc.
• Drive affordability and efficiency into launch platform execution to increase mission profitability.
• Lead Program Reviews for all launch platforms.
• Serve as a program representative in internal and customer-facing meetings, as required.
• Work with Finance and company leadership to ensure planning and financial tracking processes and procedures meet US Government contracting requirements.
• Develop and drive critical program management launch platform metrics for the program.
• Coordinate and help resolve program financial challenges, as required.Support the preparation of business proposals to the US Government and industry.
• Travel, as required, to support launch platform execution.
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity, and fulfillment of commitments.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED

• Knowledge of, and experience with, both certified and experimental heavy aircraft.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, one or more of these disciplines: Flight and/or launch vehicle testing, aircraft maintenance, heavy aircraft integration and testing, flight test scheduling and cost tracking.
• Experience leading and working with engineers, technicians, testers, and customers to deliver flight-ready aircraft.
• Experience developing schedules and managing teams who are motivated to achieve challenging test goals.
• Experience with program financial analysis, including variance analysis and developing forecasts.
• Experience with driving risk and issues to closure in a timely manner.
• Ability to develop and analyze data, and present findings to customers and management.
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills and ability to implement sound critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work on their own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, managing multiple priorities in a dynamic and changing environment.
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.

EDUCATION

• Staff-level ($128,000-$206,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) or higher and 10-20 years relevant program management experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Principal-level ($147,500-$237,200): Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) or higher and 20+ years relevant program management experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Supporting flight test often means contributing during off-nominal hours and weekends.
• All candidates are expected to be onsite in Mojave >= 80% of normal work days.
• Travel estimated to be approximately 10% or less.
• This position is located in Mojave, CA.

Benefits and our location:

• Relocation eligible to local area – Mojave, CA

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. Benefits and our location(s):

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.

For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law: