Senior Mission Manager for Satellite Bus Programs

Apex Space, Inc.; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shared equity in Apex

Company-paid healthcare: medical, dent

PTO 15–20 days + 10 holidays

401(k) with generous matching

8 weeks parental leave

Daily catered lunch & snacks

Office in Playa Vista

Vibrant community events

Impactful work with aerospace experts

Job summary

Apex Space, Inc. in California is seeking a Staff Mission Manager to lead complex customer missions through satellite bus development and delivery.

You will serve as a senior client interface, coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and mission services to ensure on-time execution. The role requires autonomy, strong technical judgment, and the ability to navigate cross-functional challenges, identify risks, mentor other Mission Managers, and drive improvements to mission

Qualifications

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field. Advanced degrees are a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in technical program, project, mission, or systems management, preferably in the space, aerospace, or defense industry.
• Active Top Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance desired, but not required
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, technically sophisticated programs with significant customer, schedule, and execution requirements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive execution across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and other functions without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of satellite technology, spacecraft systems, and the space industry.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate program risks, resolve high-impact issues, manage dependencies, and drive decisions in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments.
• Exceptional customer and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and executive audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership through influence, including mentoring other program or mission managers and improving mission management processes, tools, and execution standards.
• PMP, CAPM, or equivalent project management certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior point of contact for Apex customers, owning communication, alignment, and execution throughout the satellite bus development and delivery lifecycle.
• Lead complex, high-priority, or strategically important missions, driving cross-functional execution across engineering, manufacturing, Supply Chain, Mission Services, and other teams.
• Establish and manage integrated mission schedules, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure customer and business commitments are met.
• Proactively identify and mitigate mission-level risks, technical challenges, and roadblocks, driving resolution of high-impact issues and escalating effectively when needed.
• Translate complex technical and programmatic information into clear customer communication and decisions, serving as a trusted escalation point for customer concerns.
• Drive alignment and decision-making across stakeholders, resolving competing priorities and maintaining execution in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments.
• Lead improvements to mission management processes, tools, and operating mechanisms while identifying opportunities to improve mission execution across Apex.
• Mentor and provide guidance to other Mission Managers, helping establish consistent execution standards and raising the overall capability of the Mission Services organization.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Stakeholder management

Communication

Mentoring

Risk management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Advanced degrees are a plus

Job description

Apex Space, Inc. in California is seeking a Staff Mission Manager to lead complex customer missions through satellite bus development and delivery.

You will serve as a senior client interface, coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and mission services to ensure on-time execution. The role requires autonomy, strong technical judgment, and the ability to navigate cross-functional challenges, identify risks, mentor other Mission Managers, and drive improvements to mission