Senior Technical Program Manager, Earth Observation

Muon Space•San Jose, CA

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Muon seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead earth observation programs for U.S. Government customers. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role at the intersection of payload engineering and rapid-cycle space vehicle development. These programs span the full mission lifecycle — concept development and design through integration, launch, and on-orbit operations — and are executed under formal government contract structures with defined deliverables and milestones. The Senior TPM runs the program end to end: executing every contractual commitment and positioning Muon to win the work that follows. The Senior TPM holds single-point accountability for delivering the program on schedule, within budget, and to technical performance standards. Operating with high autonomy on an accelerated contractual schedule, you will drive key milestones and lead cross-functional technical exchanges spanning systems engineering, payload, flight software, ground segment, and mission operations. This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a technical field, or equivalent experience.
8+ years of program management experience on complex aerospace or defense development programs, including direct ownership of cost, schedule, and technical baselines
Experience executing U.S. Government contracts: statement-of-work and CDRL deliverables, milestone-based structures, and day-to-day work with government contracting and technical representatives
Experience leading engineering teams through concept development, trade studies, and preliminary design
Exceptional written communication skills — you will author and own the quality of customer-facing reports, design artifacts, and contract deliverables

Nice To Haves

Satellite or instrument program leadership across the full lifecycle (design, build, integrate, test, operate)
Domain experience with remote sensing systems — EO/IR, RF, or both — at the payload or mission level
Direct experience working with USSF Space Systems Command or JPL
PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials
Ability to obtain a security clearance

Responsibilities

Serve as the single accountable owner for the program's cost, schedule, and technical baselines
Own the integrated master schedule, cost baseline, and risk register; track and report progress against contract milestones
Plan and run formal program events — internal readiness reviews, and customer-facing milestone deliverable reviews
Maintain tight cost and schedule discipline; surface deviations to the customer promptly and with a recovery plan
Act as the primary programmatic interface to the Government customer, including contracting and technical representatives
Lead technical exchange meetings and convert customer input into actionable program direction
Own the delivery and quality of all contract data deliverables
Direct a cross-functional team spanning systems engineering, payload, flight software, ground processing, and mission operations
Partner with mission operations when program activities involve Muon's operational systems — without disrupting existing missions
Drive design trades and study conclusions to closure on schedule, escalating crisply when decisions stall
Execute the program in full compliance with its government security requirements, including handling of controlled information and strict public-release restrictions
Ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR export controls and U.S.-only performance requirements
Support program growth: convert program artifacts into proposal-ready material and support capture of follow-on opportunities