Sr Manager, Production - Satellites and Spacecraft Systems

Sierra Space; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 151,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision plans

401(k) with 150% match up to 6%

Life insurance

3 weeks paid time off

Job summary

Sierra Space Corporation in Englewood, Colorado, is seeking a Senior Manager, Production to translate strategic plans into day‑to‑day plant objectives. You will oversee multiple disciplines, drive cross‑functional initiatives, and shape a new high‑capability satellite & spacecraft component production site.

The role requires 8+ years in leadership, top‑secret clearance eligibility, and strong financial management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant work experience with significant leadership responsibility.
• Proven track record of managing large teams and complex projects.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence at all levels.
• Knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
• Strong financial acumen and budget management skills.

Responsibilities

• Translate functional plans into operational plans and initiatives.
• Ensure execution aligned to financial plans and budgets.
• Lead and support change initiatives across multiple disciplines.
• Supervise managers or individual contributors across two or more teams.
• Drive strategy and success of large projects impacting multiple departments.
• Provide guidance to subordinates and align objectives with organizational goals.
• Interact regularly with executive leadership on cross‑functional matters.
• Uphold company values and hold others accountable to them.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Sierra Space Careers: At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth. Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond. Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space. We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

Sierra Space is expanding its satellite manufacturing plant in Englewood, Colorado, designed to deliver significant production and test capability for future civil and national security satellite programs. The Senior Manager, Production will be a foundational operational leader for this facility — translating strategic plans into the day-to-day objectives, processes, and workforce structure that define the plant from the ground up. This role directly shapes how production is built and scaled at a new high-capability manufacturing site. The Senior Manager will oversee multiple disciplines or departments, manage large teams and complex cross‑functional projects, and drive the operational initiatives that establish Dove Valley as a center of excellence for satellite and spacecraft component manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test. The role requires regular interaction with executive leadership on sensitive, complex, and cross‑functional matters, along with the financial acumen to manage budgets supporting both near-term production and long-term facility growth. The ideal candidate brings a proven record of managing large teams and complex projects, deep knowledge of aerospace and defense industry standards, and the leadership to foster a culture of excellence as Dove Valley matures to support civil and national security satellite missions.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space‑based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission. We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Key Responsibilities

• Translates functional plans into operational plans; identifies and executes operational initiatives.
• Ensures execution in accordance with financial plans; accountable for area budgets.
• Embodies our culture and great leadership; leads and supports change initiatives.
• Manages activities of two or more disciplines or a department, providing direct supervision to managers or individual contributors.
• Drives the strategy and success of larger projects which contribute to multiple areas of the organization.
• Translates functional plans into operational objectives to deliver results, providing guidance to subordinates.
• Contributes to financial planning and executes according to plans, goals, and priorities.
• Accountable for select budgets.
• Interacts regularly with leadership, including executive level, on cross‑functional and/or customer matters requiring the ability to persuade in sensitive and complex situations.
• Works on issues where analysis of situations or data requires conceptual thinking and an in‑depth knowledge of organizational objectives.
• Upholds and models company values; holds others accountable to values.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).
• Typically, 8+ years of relevant work experience with a significant portion in a managerial or leadership role.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large teams and complex projects.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.
• Upholds and models company values; ability to hold others accountable to values.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to translate functional plans into operational plans; identifies and executes operational initiatives.
• In‑depth knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
• Strong financial acumen and budget management skills.
• Experience supporting organizational changes.
• Current security clearance or the ability to obtain and hold a clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Extensive experience in the production of Satellites and Spacecraft Components.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data‑driven decision‑making.
• Familiarity with advanced project management tools and methodologies.
• Proven ability to interact effectively with executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six‑sigma, and/or Theory of Constraints Manufacturing Principles.
• Understanding of Assembly, Integration and Test practices.
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, the US Department of Defense or US Military Compensation.

Compensation

Pay Range: $151,141.00 - $207,841.00 Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non‑U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations.

• medical
• dental
• vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off
• and more

Application Deadline

This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Application deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified. Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

About Sierra Space

Sierra Space is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

Headquartered in Colorado, Sierra Space is a mission‑proven Defense Tech company delivering satellite platforms, critical subsystems, reusable spaceplanes, hypersonic technologies, propulsion systems, and infrastructure for the nation’s most critical missions. With more than three decades of heritage and a record of flight‑proven success in space, Sierra Space is trusted by U.S. National Security, Civil customers, and global allies. Our technologies safeguard our nation, sustain human exploration in space, and ensure the freedom of operations beyond Earth. Sierra Space is defining the new era of Space Defense, strengthening deterrence today and preserving freedom of action for generations to come.