Program Manager – Space Program

Jobtailor; Monrovia (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton in California seeks a senior Program Manager to lead contract execution for a large space communications program. You will oversee O&M, modernization, transition, and mission assurance, while managing schedules, budgets, and resources across dispersed teams and sites.

The role requires extensive NASA/DSN experience, strong stakeholder engagement, and a PMP-certified background in systems engineering. Expect a fast-paced environment with accountability for cost, schedule and performance.

Qualifications

• Local to the Los Angeles region
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or math or related technical discipline
• 16+ years of related experience
• Experience with NASA and Deep Space Network systems
• Experience managing large programs ($50M+) in cost, schedule, performance, and risk
• 8+ years interfacing with Government/Prime customers
• Experience with hiring and staff performance evaluations
• Experience with modern IT such as cloud and/or virtual networks
• PMP certification
• Expert practitioner in systems engineering
• 5+ years working with NASA and understanding NASA standards
• Experience with commercial SATCOM systems
• Ability to lead dispersed teams and adapt to fast-paced environments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead for contract execution and primary customer contact
• Oversee program activities including O&M, modernization, transition, and mission assurance
• Develop and execute program management plans, schedules, budgets, and resource plans
• Manage contract performance to meet cost, schedule, and quality objectives
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks and opportunities
• Engage senior stakeholders to align with mission objectives
• Lead across geographically dispersed teams
• Provide leadership across Peraton facilities in Monrovia, CA and NASA Goldstone complex
• Ensure safety, risk, and mission assurance are priorities
• Monitor financial performance and delivery of objectives on schedule and within budget
• Support NASA’s Deep Space Network operations, sustainment, modernization, and continuous improvement

Skills

Program Management

Leadership

Risk Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Systems Engineering

NASA Operations Experience

PMP Certification

Project Scheduling

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or math

Tools

Cloud Networks

Virtual Networks

Commercial Space Communications Architecture

Job description

• Serve as the overall lead for contract execution and the primary point of contact
• Provide leadership and oversight of all program activities including O&M, modernization, transition, and mission assurance
• Develop and execute program management plans, schedules, budgets, and resource plans
• Serve as the primary customer point of contact
• Manage contract performance to meet cost, schedule, technical, and quality objectives
• Ensure safety and mission assurance objectives are key priorities for all employees and sites
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks and opportunities
• Engage senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with mission objectives
• Lead and coordinate across geographically dispersed teams
• Provide leadership across the Peraton facility in Monrovia, California and the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
• Ensure financial performance, risk management, and delivery of program objectives on schedule and within budget
• Support NASA’s Deep Space Network operations, sustainment, modernization, and continuous improvement

Requirements

• Must be local to the Los Angeles region
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Science, or Math, or related technical discipline
• 16+ years of related experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and insight into commercial space communications architecture, services, and approaches
• Experience managing large ($50M plus) projects with respect to cost, schedule, performance, and risk
• Minimum 8+ years of experience interfacing with Government and/or Prime customers to provide status of projects and resolving program issues
• Experience with selection and hiring of candidates for technical and management positions and conducting performance evaluations and salary reviews for assigned staff
• Experience managing programs with modern and current IT, such as cloud and/or virtual networks
• PMP certification
• Expert practitioner in systems engineering
• 5+ years’ experience working with NASA and deep understanding of NASA’s systems, standards, policies and procedures for execution and operations of their missions
• Experience with developing and/or managing commercial SATCOM systems
• Experience leading a team to develop creative ways to adapt to current technology, increasing efficiency and maximizing the potential of existing assets
• Ability to succeed in fast-paced and changing environments of program execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent teamwork

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in program management, including leadership in contract execution, risk management, and financial performance. Proficient in managing large-scale projects within the commercial space communications sector, particularly in collaboration with NASA.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Program Management
• PMP Certification
• Systems Engineering
• NASA Operations Experience
• Commercial SATCOM Systems

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Program Management Plans
• Budget Management
• Risk Assessment
• Cost Performance Management
• Technical Oversight
• Project Scheduling
• Modern IT Management
• Mission Assurance
• O&M Management
• Stakeholder Engagement

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

• PMP Certification

Industry Keywords

• NASA
• Deep Space Network
• SATCOM Systems
• Government Customer Interface
• Mission Assurance Objectives

Tools & Technologies

• Cloud Networks
• Virtual Networks
• Commercial Space Communications Architecture