Technical Project Manager

Astrion; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion is seeking a Technical Project Manager to support the AFRL RAPID lab at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. The role involves guiding cross-functional engineering teams to deliver program milestones and maintain integrated schedules.

Required: U.S. citizenship, DoD/ government program experience, and a Secret clearance. This full-time position emphasizes strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and rigorous schedule management within a defense context.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• DoD Secret clearance required; TS/SCI preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or related field is required.
• 3+ years supporting DoD or government programs; 2+ years in leadership/PM roles.
• Experience managing integrated schedules with multiple interdependent systems.
• Proficiency with MS Office; ability to build/maintain integrated schedules.

Responsibilities

• Assist the RAPID Program Manager with strategy, planning, and execution.
• Coordinate cross-functional technical teams to meet milestones and schedules.
• Represent the program in customer meetings, reviews, TIMs, and audits.
• Track actions, milestones, and maintain program documentation.
• Engage stakeholders across government and contractor teams.
• Translate mission needs into executable technical plans with engineering leadership.
• Monitor progress, risks, and interdependencies across hardware/software/network efforts.
• Participate in requirements planning, architecture discussions, and trade studies.
• Ensure engineering efforts align with program priorities and contractual requirements.
• Coordinate with subcontractors for quality and compliance.
• Support scheduling, budgeting, and risk management artifacts.

Skills

U.S. Citizenship

Secret clearance

Effective communication

Cross-functional leadership

Schedule management

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, business, or related field

PMP certification (preferred)

Tools

MS Project

Excel

Job description

Overview

Technical Project Manager

LOCATION: On Site (Hybrid Option) - Kirtland AFB, NM

JOB STATUS: Full-time

CLEARANCE: Secret (Required), TS/SCI (Preferred)

CERTIFICATION: PMP Preferred

TRAVEL: <10%

Astrion is seeking a Technical Project Manager to support the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate, at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. This role is a key contributor to the Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development (RAPID) laboratory — a mission-critical effort accelerating the Space Force's transition to resilient future architectures through advanced system-of-systems design and ground demonstrations. The Technical Project Manager will support execution and oversight of cross-functional engineering and technical teams, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and successful delivery of program milestones.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• U.S. Citizenship required
• DoD Secret clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, business, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of experience supporting DoD or government programs, with 2+ years in a technical leadership or project/program management role
• Experience managing integrated schedules involving multiple interdependent systems
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Skilled in developing and maintaining integrated project schedules (e.g., with MS Project, Excel)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interface effectively with senior government leaders, engineers, and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-disciplinary projects whith evolving priorities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Familiarity with space systems, secure communications, or networked system architectures
• Understanding of system engineering principles and technical coordination in defense programs
• Experience supporting stakeholder engagement and cross-organizational collaboration
• Prior exposure to AFRL or Space Force technical initiatives is a plus

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the RAPID Program Manager with overall program strategy, planning, and execution
• Coordinate cross-functional technical teams, ensuring delivery of program objectives and alignment to schedule
• Represent the program in customer meetings, design reviews, and technical interchange meetings (TIMs)
• Track action items, monitor milestones, and maintain program documentation
• Support stakeholder engagement and build relationships across government and contractor teams
• Translate mission needs into executable technical plans alongside the Chief Engineer and Technical Director
• Monitor technical progress, risks, and interdependencies across hardware, software, and network development efforts
• Participate in requirements planning, architecture discussions, and trade studies as needed
• Ensure engineering efforts are aligned with program priorities
• Coordinate with subcontractors to ensure technical quality and contract compliance
• Assist in developing and maintaining schedules, budgets, and risk registers
• Track earned value, contract deliverables, and performance metrics
• Support creation of status reports, briefings, and formal contract data deliverables

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