Spacecraft Program Manager

Benchmark Space Systems

8d•$160,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Benchmark Space Systems is looking for an analytically minded, results-driven Spacecraft Program Manager to join our Mission Success team and lead the next phase of one of Benchmark’s core spacecraft programs. This role sits at the center of the program, working closely across the company, our customers, subcontractors, and internal cross-functional teams to deliver successful program outcomes. In this role, you will develop, analyze, and manage detailed development and delivery plans, program deliverable documentation, production schedules, material procurement plans, and program reporting metrics. You will serve as the primary customer-facing representative for the program and coordinate critical activities across functions ranging from R&D and engineering to production, supply chain, and finance. This is an ideal role for someone with strong analytical skills, a talent for organizing complexity into easily executable work, and a drive to deliver results. This role can be based onsite at our Burlington, VT or Pleasanton, CA offices, or remote for candidates located in the Boulder, CO area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering (aerospace, electrical, or mechanical preferred), or a related technical field.
10+ years of professional experience in the high-technology or engineering industry, including program/project management of technical products.
Demonstrated experience managing government contracts from capture/proposal through execution and closeout, including programs with significant subcontractors.
Experience with scope definition and program planning, earned value management, risk management, schedule management tools, and financial controls.
Experience with Wrike, MS Project, or similar planning tools.
Experience with MS Excel and PowerPoint, or similar tools.
Experience building the data-driven tools needed to plan, analyze, and communicate program plans and status.
Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person under U.S. export control laws.

Nice To Haves

Professional work in the aerospace industry.
Experience with government customers and defense contractors.
Experience with satellites, spacecraft operations, and propulsion systems.
Key planning and analysis tools such as Wrike, MS Project, and MS Excel, demonstrated through certifications or other means.
Applying AI tools to reduce the workload required for analysis, reporting, and document generation, demonstrated through certifications or other means.

Responsibilities

Lead the program team in developing and managing program schedules, resource plans, material procurement plans, risk analyses, and budgets.
Serve as the primary customer-facing representative; manage contractual requirements, change management, technical interchange meetings, program review meetings, and formal deliverables.
Oversee subcontractor and supplier performance; negotiate and manage statements of work, ensure on-time delivery of critical path items, and resolve issues that threaten schedule or cost.
Ensure effective coordination of program activities and communications across geographically distributed cross-functional and multi-company teams.
Conduct regular program reporting, including monthly program updates and reforecasts of labor and material spend plans.
Regularly communicate program status and plans with other internal program managers, team leaders, customers, and subcontractors.
Escalate meaningful risks, issues, and opportunities to leadership in a timely and effective manner, including an assessment of options and a recommended path forward.
At times, actively manage detailed production schedules in coordination with the Operations and Supply Chain teams.
Support preparations for customer visits and meetings.
Ensure rigorous compliance with agency-specific policies and security classification guides.
At all times, maintain Benchmark’s outstanding reputation for operating at the highest levels of honesty, integrity, accountability, and transparency.