Technical Program Manager, Satellite

Xona Space Systems • Burlingame, CA

13d • $132,000 - $148,000

About The Position

Xona is a navigational intelligence company developing Pulsar, a Low Earth Orbit satellite infrastructure intended to provide global positioning optimized for precision, power, and protection. The Technical Program Manager, Satellite supports execution of the satellite program across bus and payload, working with the program lead and engineering teams to keep the hardware development program on track. The role owns key program-management workstreams, coordinates across teams, and builds familiarity with the hardware and development lifecycle. It offers ownership, close work with the hardware, and the opportunity to help shape program-management practices as Xona grows.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in technical program management, project management, systems engineering, engineering operations, or a related role supporting complex hardware and/or software development.
• Experience supporting a technical development program involving hardware, embedded software, systems integration, testing, manufacturing, and/or external suppliers.
• Strong systems-thinking and organizational skills, including the ability to track interdependencies across mechanical, electrical, software, and integration workstreams while maintaining focus on the critical path.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain schedules, track risks and action items, and communicate program health clearly.
• Proactive and self-directed, able to identify gaps, keep work moving, and know when to seek input or escalate.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work credibly with engineers and summarize status for leadership.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment with lightweight processes and shifting priorities.
• For U.S. roles, eligibility must meet U.S. Government space technology export regulations: U.S. citizenship, U.S. lawful permanent residency, or other protected individual status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
• For U.K. roles, eligibility for Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks and to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC) is required.
• For Canada roles, candidates must obtain and hold reliability-status security clearance and pass assessments for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting a satellite, spacecraft, launch-vehicle, aerospace, defense, robotics, telecommunications, or similarly complex hardware program.
• Familiarity with satellite bus subsystems, RF communications, GNSS, PNT systems, navigation payloads, or mission operations.
• Exposure to the hardware development lifecycle, including PDR/CDR design reviews, integration, testing, manufacturing, and launch or operational readiness.
• Experience coordinating deliverables with suppliers, vendors, or technical partners.
• Proficiency with scheduling tools such as Wrike, MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar.
• PMP, CAPM, Agile, or other program-management certifications.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and drive the satellite development schedule across bus subsystems, including power, GNC, and structure, and payload areas, including electrical, antennas, and RF; track milestones, dependencies, critical-path items, and schedule risks.
• Coordinate across avionics, RF/payload, ground software, and production teams, translating technical progress into shared plans, clear accountability, and actionable next steps.
• Work with the Supply Chain team and technical leads to track bus-vendor and payload-supplier deliverables, follow up on open items, and synchronize external commitments with internal milestones.
• Maintain the risk register and issue tracker, surface risks, and work with technical leads to resolve blockers; escalate material issues to the program lead with context, impact, and a recommended path forward.
• Prepare and deliver regular satellite program-status updates to leadership on schedule health, milestone progress, risks, action items, and upcoming decisions.
• Organize and facilitate program working sessions and cross-functional meetings, capture decisions and action items, and drive follow-through to closure.
• Help develop and improve lightweight program-management processes suited to a small, fast-moving team, and contribute practical improvements as the company scales.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed