Program Planner, U.S. Government Programs

York Spaces Systems•Greenwood Village, CO

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you ready to accelerate your career and help deliver game-changing satellites to U.S. government customers at commercial speed? We are seeking a highly motivated and results-oriented Program Planner to support our critical satellite missions. In this fast-paced environment, the Planner works directly with our Program Managers, gaining hands-on experience by tackling daily operational challenges, coordinating cross-functional teams, and making rapid, data-driven decisions that drive mission success. This role is ideal for an aspiring Program Planner looking to take the next step and absorb the "get it done" culture of a high-growth defense startup. This role will be fully on-site in our Greenwood Village, Colorado office.

Requirements

3+ years of relevant experience in project planning within a fast-paced, high-tech, or defense environment.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Strong technical aptitude or fluency regarding the satellite development lifecycle, from system design to testing phases.
Experience supporting programs for DoD or other government agencies is highly valued.
Proven ability to break down complex problems into manageable tasks and coordinate teams to deliver solutions quickly and effectively.
Proficiency in Microsoft Project scheduling and analysis.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Must be a U.S. Citizen and either hold or be able to obtain a U.S. government security clearance, often at the TS/SCI level.
Willingness to work full-time in office in Greenwood Village, CO.

Nice To Haves

Prior hands-on experience in satellite or space system operations/testing.
Experience in a high-growth startup environment is highly valued.
Familiarity or experience with modern Agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, SAFe) applied to hardware.
CAM and Agile Project Management certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist in managing the schedules for entire program lifecycle from contract negotiation support through design, build, test, and on-orbit operations, focusing on efficient delivery timelines that challenge traditional aerospace schedules.
Identify no/low-cost solutions to keep the program on track and support the challenge of lengthy engineering solutions to drive efficient changes.
Assist in implementing and evolving agile program planning methodologies that adapt to changing customer needs.
Own and maintain key schedule performance metrics, tracking progress and program health with real-time data visualization tools.
Analyze data trends to identify and proactively mitigate program risks, communicating insights across the team and to the Program Manager.
Support budget management efforts, track program milestones, and assist in maintaining program financial targets with a constant focus on increasing efficiency.
Coordinate schedules with cross-functional integrated teams of engineers and operators (engineering, production, finance, and supply chain).
Absorb institutional knowledge from the Program Management team and embody the company’s high-performance, ownership-driven culture.
Facilitate clear communication of complex technical and programmatic information between engineers, the Program Manager, and diverse internal/external stakeholders across both unclassified/classified environments.
Contribute to proposals for future satellite missions.
Find creative and no/low-cost recommendations to keep your program on track.
Challenge lengthy or difficult engineering solutions for the team to drive towards effective and efficient changes.
Translate projected forecasts, incoming volume, and work scopes into a production plan with a time-phased build schedule.
Work with customer base to determine weekly inbound forecast and develop models to improve accuracy.
Identify key performance indicators of forecast accuracy that align with key program milestones.
Ensure the interaction of a firm’s functional managers, and track and maintain the forecast through timely and accurate feedback.
Schedule demand based on the product mix and provide accurate commitment dates to customer service team across multiple programs.
Create and manage schedules for programs and summarize them at the enterprise level.
Collaborate with Program Managers to identify resources (human and physical) that are necessary for each program.
Help to identify and mitigate risks, look across programs to identify systemic challenges and solution development.
Develop strong relationships across the organization through effective communication.
Facilitate communication and acceptance of key milestones across the organization using graphics and data products.
Engage with program managers effectively through strong presentation and interpersonal skills.
Support program managers in customer or supplier engagement if requested.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement across the program management organization.
Other Duties as Assigned.