Space Hardware Project Manager

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,800 - 181,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care and wellness plans

Telework options

401(k) plan

Relocation assistance

Professional growth programs

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Space Hardware Project Manager (Project Leader – Technical Project Management) in California. You will manage multiple space hardware projects through all development phases, ensuring alignment with requirements, budgets, and schedules while maintaining strong customer communications.

The role requires a STEM degree, 6+ years in related hardware/project management, and the ability to work with cross‑functional teams. Travel (~10%) and U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable STEM field or related technical discipline.
• Six or more years of increasingly responsible, related professional experience.
• Experience working in a hardware engineering role.
• Experience in team leadership, project management, project planning and/or project execution.
• Willingness to travel and support customer needs (approx. 10%).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects through all phases of development: Proposal, Concept, Requirements, Design, Build, Assembly, Integration & Test, Delivery, Launch, Post Launch, etc.
• Work with project teams to ensure work adheres to mission/project requirements, budgets, schedules and risk posture.
• Manage roadblocks and events to maintain technical, cost and schedule performance.
• Create and maintain relationships with internal and external customers and other teams.
• Develop project cost and schedule plans for new business proposals in collaboration with estimating and contracts teams.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Budgeting / cost planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Space Hardware Project Manager (Project Leader – Technical Project Management)

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators.

The Aerospace Corporation’s Experiment Lab (xLab) develops prototypes, instruments, pathfinders, and demonstration systems to address our customers’ hardest problems at the speed of need. We engage with our customers to conceptualize innovative solutions and deliver impactful products for ground and space and everything in between. We are looking for engineers with a passion for design, a commitment to teamwork and a desire to help xLab make a difference to today’s challenges.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage multiple projects through all phases of development: Proposal, Concept, Requirements, Design, Build, Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T), Delivery, Launch, Post Launch, etc.
• Work with project teams to ensure work is performed in accordance with mission/project requirements, planned budgets, schedules, and program risk posture.
• Manage road‑blocks, work‑arounds and unexpected events on projects to maintain optimal technical, cost and schedule performance.
• Create and maintain strong working relationships and lines of communication with both internal and external customers and other team member organizations.
• Develop project cost and schedule plans for new business proposals; collaborate with Aerospace estimating and contracts teams to ensure compliant submission of new business proposals.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable STEM field or related technical discipline.
• Six or more years of increasingly responsible, related professional experience.
• Experience working in a hardware engineering role.
• Experience in team leadership, project management, project planning and/or project execution.
• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off‑business hours to support customer needs (approximately 10%).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required.

Additional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an applicable STEM discipline.
• Direct project management experience.
• Spaceflight hardware experience in project/product team leadership and execution.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Knowledge and understanding of procurement, property and business practices.
• Experience with Microsoft Project or other project management tools.

Salary

The grade-based pay range for this job is $120,800.00 – $181,100.00 per year.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
• 401(k) plan with company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10% or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
• Relocation assistance.
• Professional growth and development programs.
• Education assistance programs.
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically.
• Lead Change.
• Engage with Impact.
• Foster Innovation.
• Deliver Results.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or requires reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail].