Senior Program Manager
Aurora Launch Services (ALS): Aurora Launch Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alaska Aerospace, established to provide low cost, highly reliable launch services on a contract basis to both government and commercial space launch customers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, co-located with Alaska Aerospace.
Position Description: Under the direction of the Director of Programs, the Senior Program Manager is accountable for the successful planning, integration, execution, and closeout of assigned aerospace, launch, range infrastructure, and related customer programs. The Senior Program Manager serves as a primary programmatic interface with assigned government and/or commercial customers and leads cross-functional teams to translate customer requirements and contractual commitments into executable plans. This position is responsible for delivery within approved scope, schedule, budget, technical, safety, quality, and contractual requirements.
Location: This position is based in either Anchorage or Kodiak, AK. Work is performed on-site. Periodic travel (<25%) to other company and mission-related locations may be required.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
1. Lead assigned programs from definition and planning through execution, mission completion, and closeout, maintaining overall accountability for program performance, customer commitments, and timely delivery.
2. Serve as a primary programmatic interface with assigned government and commercial customers. Understand mission objectives, requirements, priorities, constraints, and measures of success; lead customer meetings and program reviews; manage expectations and communicate issues, decisions, and changes clearly and promptly.
3. Develop and maintain integrated plans and schedules identifying milestones, dependencies, critical paths, customer-furnished items, and resources. Coordinate activities across supporting organizations and initiate corrective action when performance deviates from plan.
4. Develop budgets, forecasts, estimates-to-complete, and financial plans. Monitor program expenditures, forecasts, variances, financial risks, and applicable revenue/margin objectives.
5. Ensure execution in accordance with contractual requirements; manage requirements, deliverables, scope changes, and associated contract modifications.
6. Coordinate with engineering, operations, range safety, facilities, IT, logistics, security, and other technical functions to translate customer requirements into executable solutions; maintain sufficient technical understanding to identify dependencies, integration issues, and risks across mission systems and facilities.
7. Identify, assess, track, mitigate, and communicate program risks and opportunities; evaluate resulting cost, schedule, technical, contractual, and operational impacts of changes; escalate significant matters promptly.
8. Lead or support launch, test, and mission campaign planning and execution, including readiness activities, reviews, rehearsals, site preparations, logistics, customer support, and operational interfaces. Support console or mission-management functions when trained and assigned; capture lessons learned and corrective actions.
9. Develop accurate, concise, decision-oriented program reports, dashboards, briefings, schedules, financial summaries, and risk assessments. Conduct program reviews with leadership and customers; identify emerging conditions requiring attention; maintain complete and current program records.
10. Lead cross-functional teams and establish clear priorities, responsibilities, and expectations. Coordinate project managers, engineers, operations personnel, contractors, consultants, suppliers, and supporting organizations.
11. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex technical programs involving multiple organizations, customers, contractors, and competing priorities, with sufficient technical understanding to make sound programmatic decisions
- Strong knowledge of program and project management principles, including scope, requirements, integrated schedule, cost, resources, risk, change, quality, performance management, dependencies, critical paths, and milestones
- Strong financial-management skills, including budget development, forecasting, cost tracking, variance analysis, and estimates-to-complete.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including sound independent judgment with incomplete information and changing requirements.
- Strong organization and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple programs, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Working knowledge of U.S. Government contracting, including FAR/DFARS and common Federal contract types.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, including personnel who do not report directly to this role.
- Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills across all levels of employees and stakeholders, including executive-level briefings, customer-management, negotiation, conflict resolution, and facilitation.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and project-management, scheduling, collaboration and reporting tools such as Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 or equivalent, Power BI, and SharePoint or similar systems; ability to use other computer systems, to include but not limited to email and digital timekeeping.
- Ability to operate effectively in a safety-conscious, regulated, mission-driven aerospace environment.
Required Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, physical science, business, program/project management, or another relevant technical or management discipline. Equivalent combinations of relevant education, training, and professional experience may be considered where appropriate.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in aerospace, defense, launch/range operations, engineering, government contracting, program/project management, or a closely related field.
- A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated responsibility leading complex programs or projects with accountability for cost, schedule, contractual performance, risks, customers, and cross-functional teams.
- Valid Driver’s License required.
- Ten (10) or more years of relevant aerospace, defense, launch/range, or complex technical program-management experience, preferred.
- Experience with government or commercial aerospace programs, launch/range operations, and Federal contracting environments, preferred.
- PMP, PgMP, DAWIA-equivalent, comparable certification, or relevant master’s degree, preferred.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This position operates primarily in an office environment with extended periods of sitting and computer use. Work may also occur in industrial, launch-site, construction, and field environments. Site inspections and operational walkdowns may require uneven terrain, stairs, inclement weather, extended standing/walking, and light lifting (up to 20 pounds) may be required. Travel to company facilities, operational sites, or business-related locations may be required based on organizational needs.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises assigned staff and provides programmatic direction to project managers, engineers, operations personnel, contractors, consultants, and other cross-functional team members. Responsibilities may include planning and assigning work, setting priorities, monitoring performance and work quality, providing coaching and feedback, supporting training and development, addressing performance concerns in coordination with management and Human Resources, and ensuring work supports program objectives.
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by mission campaigns, as applicable.
- Ability to travel and perform temporary duty at operational or mission-related locations, as required.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
- Successful completion of pre-employment background check and drug screening.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
It is the policy of Aurora Launch Services to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Compensation
A competitive salary and benefits package, determined upon experience level of individual, will be negotiated after an offer to hire has been given.
To Apply
Please apply online on Indeed.com or send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Professional references required. We recognize that candidates may not meet every listed qualification and encourage applicants with relevant experience, transferable skills, and interest in the role to apply. For questions call (907) 413-2301. This position will remain open until filled.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you located in Anchorage or Kodiak, Alaska? If out-of-state, will you be willing to relocate to Alaska?
- What is your preferred method of communication during the hiring process? Provide contact details here.
Education:
Experience:
- aerospace, defense, launch/range, program management: 8 years (Required)
Security clearance:
Work Location: In person
