Project Manager I

Element U.S. Space & Defense; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k with employer match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible schedules

PVTO

Job summary

Element U.S. Space & Defense in Santa Clarita, CA seeks a proactive Project Manager to lead active customer projects from initiation to completion. You will ensure on-time delivery, within budget, and alignment with client expectations across short-term and long-term testing programs.

The role requires 2–3 years in testing or technical customer service, a strong PM background, and experience with scheduling, budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration. AA degree is required; BA/BS preferred.

Qualifications

• AA Degree; BA/BS preferred or equivalent industry experience.
• 2 - 3 years' testing or technical customer service experience.
• Project management experience required.

Responsibilities

• Manages, plans, and controls individual projects through their entire EUSSD life cycle from new to completion.
• Must move projects from initiation to closing as quickly as possible while keeping costs at or below quoted amount.
• Takes complete ownership of projects within the assigned book of business. Ownership entails: Delivering business value, fulfilling commitments, project completion on time, budget and scope.

Skills

Project management

Budget oversight

Customer engagement

Scheduling

Education

AA degree required

BA/BS preferred

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

About Company

Element U.S. Space & Defense stands at the forefront of testing innovation, serving as a trusted partner to NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, government agencies, and prominent industry leaders across the space and defense sectors. Founded as NTS Technical Systems, our company brings over 60 years of experience and expertise in handling the most complex projects and programs in the world.

From centrifuge testing for the latest Mars rover, vibration testing for the Space Launch System (SLS), to environmental simulations for next-generation missiles, we are the pioneering partner for highly custom, end-to-end testing design and implementation. By advancing our state-of-the‑art testing technologies, subject matter expertise, and service to critical missions, Element U.S. Space & Defense has become the go‑to partner for ground‑breaking industries.

What We Offer

Growth & Development:

• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment.
• The chance to work on groundbreaking projects that shape the future of space and defense.

Benefits

Employees are eligible to participate in the benefits offered throughout their availability, including the following:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts
• Seven (7) paid holidays and four (4) paid floating holidays, depending on your hire date
• Paid Time Off (PTO), accrued biweekly
• 401k with employer match
• Twelve (12) hours of Paid Volunteer Time Off (PVTO) each year
• Tuition reimbursement and other employee programs
• Flexible schedules offered at some of our labs
• Monthly Lab Bonus plans (Based on position)

Salary

At EUSSD, compensation is determined through a comprehensive approach that considers candidate qualifications, role responsibilities, market benchmarks, and organizational needs. Pay may vary by location; for this position, the annual base salary target range is $75,000 - 91,000, with potential eligibility for bonuses or commission depending on the role.

Job Summary

Manages a book of active, customer projects that may consist of short-term, transactional work, mid-term testing projects, and long-term, complex projects. Ensures projects are completed on‑time, within budget, and within scope with the goal of compressing the project life cycle (from New to Complete as quickly as possible) and delivering the project to the customer expectations while minimizing the cost to complete the project. Provides the level of engagement as required by type of project and specific customer to ensure the customer's needs and expectations are met. Has a high focus on customer engagement and on creating a positive customer experience.

Job Responsibilities

• Manages, plans, and controls individual projects through their entire EUSSD life cycle from new to completion.
• Must move projects from initiation to closing as quickly as possible while keeping costs at or below quoted amount.
• Takes complete ownership of projects within the assigned book of business. Ownership entails: Delivering business value, fulfilling commitments, project completion on time, budget and scope..

Job Requirements

• Self-supervision of projects expected.
• Able to manage duties with PM principles and standard SOPs.
• May require supervision with high PM volume or implementing corrective actions.
• Ensures projects are completed on‑time, within budget, and within scope.
• Monitors budgets weekly.
• Identifies and works to mitigate all suspected future budget overruns before the overrun is reached
• Manages projects to prevent downbooks.
• Follows best practices and procedures in managing book of active projects.
• Builds productive internal and external working relationships.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Proactively manages planned and unplanned subcontracted work (i.e: IJOs and non‑EUSSD subcontractors) including negotiating pricing, setting expectations with the subcontractor, and monitoring subcontractor progress.
• esting, etc)).
• Familiar with financial controls; quoting, pricing, and negotiating.
• Basic skills in prescribed internal tools for scheduling, ERP, and MS Office.

Education And Experience

• AA Degree; BA/BS preferred or equivalent industry experience.
• 2 - 3 years' testing or technical customer service experience.
• Project management experience required.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

EEO Policy Statement

It is the policy of Element US Space & Defense to offer Equal Employment Opportunity to all individuals without regards to race, creed, ancestry, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, physical disabilities, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions.