Technical Program Manager, Payloads

trueanomalyinc; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class healthcare

Flexible Time Off

Daily catered lunch

Unlimited snacks

401(k) retirement plan

Fitness reimbursement

Dog Fridays

Equity participation

Job summary

True Anomaly Inc. seeks a Technical Program Manager, Payloads with a hardware development background to own end-to-end payload development and integration programs.

You will drive clarity, alignment, predictability, and accountability across payload engineering, spacecraft systems, software, manufacturing, test, security, and program office teams. You will lead complex programs from requirements through design, development, qualification, production, integration, and deployment, while managing

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate is comfortable operating at the intersection of technical execution and program leadership.
• Proactively manage risk, resolve cross-functional dependencies, guide tradeoffs and create structure for delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of payload development and integration programs.
• Own program execution by defining delivery plans, managing scope and milestones, and driving accountability across teams.
• Manage vertical integration projects supporting payloads, including interfaces with spacecraft systems, flight software, ground systems, manufacturing, test, launch, and mission operations.
• Serve as the primary delivery interface among payload engineering, systems engineering, production, security, and program office stakeholders.
• Translate mission and product requirements into actionable technical plans in partnership with engineering and program leadership.
• Coordinate payload development across the full lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, design, procurement, build, test, qualification, acceptance, and delivery.
• Drive interface definition and control across payloads and the broader space system; identify gaps, assumptions, and integration risks early.
• Participate in technical and architectural discussions, ensuring decisions support mission needs, delivery timelines, security requirements, manufacturability, and system reliability.
• Manage and resolve cross-team dependencies across engineering, production, security, test, launch, and program office teams.
• Maintain an accurate, real-time dependency map, integrated master schedule, risk register, and decision log for assigned programs.
• Plan and coordinate integration and test activities, including development testing, environmental testing, qualification, acceptance, end-to-end testing, and operational readiness.
• Proactively identify and manage risks, tradeoffs, and blockers; elevate issues and recommend decisions when needed.
• Track program performance using execution metrics such as milestone performance, schedule predictability, technical maturity, defect trends, test readiness, and release readiness.
• Maintain program dashboards and status reporting so stakeholders have timely, accurate information to inform decisions.
• Establish operating rhythms, including technical interchange meetings, program reviews, risk reviews, integration planning sessions, and executive updates.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, development processes, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Thrive in a high-ambiguity environment by creating structure

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors - enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.

What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.

It's the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
• Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
• Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
• And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
• Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company's success.
• Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is seeking a Technical Program Manager, Payloads with a hardware development background and a passion for building mission-critical systems that support space superiority. In this role, you will serve as the owner of program execution for payload development and integration. You will drive clarity, alignment, predictability, and accountability across payload engineering, spacecraft systems, software, manufacturing, test, security, and program office teams. You will lead complex payload programs from requirements definition through design, development, qualification, production, integration, and operational deployment. You will also manage vertical integration projects that connect payloads with the spacecraft bus, flight software, ground systems, launch operations, and mission architecture.

The ideal candidate is comfortable operating at the intersection of technical execution and program leadership. You will proactively manage risk, resolve cross-functional dependencies, guide tradeoffs, and create the structure required to deliver cutting-edge systems in a high-ambiguity, fast-paced environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of payload development and integration programs.
• Own program execution by defining delivery plans, managing scope and milestones, and driving accountability across engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Manage vertical integration projects supporting payloads, including interfaces with spacecraft systems, flight software, ground systems, manufacturing, test, launch, and mission operations.
• Serve as the primary delivery interface among payload engineering, systems engineering, production, security, and program office stakeholders.
• Translate mission and product requirements into actionable technical plans in partnership with engineering and program leadership.
• Coordinate payload development across the full lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, design, procurement, build, test, qualification, acceptance, and delivery.
• Drive interface definition and control across payloads and the broader space system; identify gaps, assumptions, and integration risks early.
• Participate in technical and architectural discussions, ensuring decisions support mission needs, delivery timelines, security requirements, manufacturability, and system reliability.
• Manage and resolve cross-team dependencies across engineering, production, security, test, launch, and program office teams.
• Maintain an accurate, real-time dependency map, integrated master schedule, risk register, and decision log for assigned programs.
• Plan and coordinate integration and test activities, including development testing, environmental testing, qualification, acceptance, end-to-end testing, and operational readiness.
• Proactively identify and manage risks, tradeoffs, and blockers; elevate issues and recommend decisions when schedule, scope, technical performance, or resources are misaligned.
• Track program performance using execution metrics such as milestone performance, schedule predictability, technical maturity, defect trends, test readiness, and release readiness.
• Maintain program dashboards and status reporting so stakeholders have timely, accurate information to inform decisions.
• Establish effective operating rhythms, including technical interchange meetings, program reviews, risk reviews, integration planning sessions, and executive updates.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, development processes, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Thrive in a high-ambiguity environment by creating structure