Principal Program Manager

Blue Canyon Technologies • Lafayette, CO

16h • Onsite

About The Position

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX's small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, is solving some of the toughest challenges in space. Our components and bus platforms have completed missions ranging from very-low Earth orbits to lunar and interplanetary journeys at a fraction of the cost of traditional space systems. We support premier defense, commercial and civil organizations including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, MIT Lincoln Lab, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Colorado and more. Join our innovative and dynamic company as we build, test and operate the small spacecraft of the future. Position Purpose: The Principal Program Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and successful delivery of large, complex spacecraft programs. This role requires balancing technical execution, customer relationships, financial performance, and strategic business growth.

Requirements

• 12+ years managing aerospace or defense programs with demonstrated success leading spacecraft, launch vehicle, or other related program types.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field; master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication (verbal and written), negotiation, and customer engagement skills.
• Strong technical management skills and knowledge of systems engineering, spacecraft development lifecycles, and mission operations.
• Demonstrated ability to grow new business opportunities.
• Proven track record of success working with NASA, DOD, IC and with prime contractors/commercial customers to deliver operational systems.
• Expertise in program financial management, EVM, risk management, and schedule management.
• Ability to work rapidly with very minimal supervision on projects involving both small and large engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

• master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary interface with government, commercial, and defense customers, ensuring program objectives and contractual requirements are met.
• Lead large, complex space programs from proposal through design, manufacturing, integration, test, launch, and handovers to mission operations.
• Present program status, financial health, and risk assessments to executive leadership and customers.
• Lead program reviews from System Requirements Review (SRR) to Pre-ship Review (PSR) and customer milestone reviews.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, schedule, cost, and programmatic risks.
• Monitor program performance using earned value management (EVM), key performance indicators (KPIs), and financial forecasting (EACs/LREs).
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and mission assurance standards.
• Manage/perform trade studies balancing cost, schedule and technical requirements and parametric
• Develop, review, and negotiate procurement documents (specification, SOW) and manage subcontracts and strategic partners to ensure successful delivery of hardware and services.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives to enhance execution efficiency, product quality, and organizational performance.
• Develop and manage integrated master schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource plans that meet delivery and cost requirements.
• Direct cross-functional teams including systems engineering, software, hardware, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, mission assurance, and operations.
• Collaborate with business development, capture teams, and customers to develop innovative and competitive proposals, cost estimates, and technical strategies.
• Develop long-term customer relationships and identify opportunities for program growth and follow-on work.
• Mentor program managers and project leads while promoting best practices in program execution.
• May include personnel management responsibilities
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

• Employer sponsored health, dental, and vision benefits effective the first of the month following hire date
• Life insurance
• 401k (matching 4% with a minimum 5% contribution)
• Generous PTO (3 weeks of vacation + 3 floating holidays, 2 weeks of sick time, 7 paid holidays throughout the year)
• parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal