Senior Director, Mission Management & National Security

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 251,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space Industries seeks a Director of Mission Management to build and lead a team responsible for turning contracts into on-orbit operations and reentry recovery. You will own the full program lifecycle, manage cross-functional interfaces, and ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR and security requirements.

You will partner with Engineering, Sales, Regulatory, and Legal, driving risk management, process scaling, and customer satisfaction while guiding a growing team to deliver complex space

Qualifications

• 12+ years of program/mission management experience in aerospace/defense.
• Experience executing government contracts, incl. firm-fixed-price, SOW development and change management.
• Experience managing classified national security programs.
• Strong technical depth and first-principles thinking.
• Experience with ITAR/EAR compliance in space/defense contexts.
• Track record of leading and developing high-performing teams.
• U.S. citizenship for ITAR access.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, physics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Own manifest, deconflict priorities across pharma objectives and constraints.
• Lead end-to-end program management across the mission portfolio from pre-contract to recovery.
• Serve as senior interface with government and commercial program offices.
• Chair milestone reviews and ensure quality, timing, and payment milestones.

Skills

Program/mission management

Technical depth

ITAR/EAR compliance

Security clearance

Education

Engineering/physics degree

Job description

Varda Space Industries seeks a Director of Mission Management to build and lead a team responsible for turning contracts into on-orbit operations and reentry recovery. You will own the full program lifecycle, manage cross-functional interfaces, and ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR and security requirements.

You will partner with Engineering, Sales, Regulatory, and Legal, driving risk management, process scaling, and customer satisfaction while guiding a growing team to deliver complex space